The ATF’s National Tracing Center (NTC) is the only crime firearm tracing centre in the U.S. It works around to trace guns involved in crime and gives investigative leads to close to 9,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and 49 international agencies.
How NTC Works
When law enforcers come across firearms at a place of crime, they most likely would want to find out more about the gun’s origin. To do this, they can make a firearm trace request by filling ATF Form 3312.1 or through the online tracking system, eTrace.
NTC will get the trace request, and using the firearm’s serial number; they will try to establish its manufacturer or importer. With this information and their records, they can connect the distribution chain, from the retailer to the transferee or buyer.
The NYC findings can help law enforcement pinpoint suspects and associate them with specific guns involved in criminal investigations. Additionally, firearm tracing is essential in detecting “rogue gun dealers”, firearm traffickers, and types of guns used in illegal activities.
Duty to Respond
FFLs must respond to gun trace requests with any information that ATF requests immediately or within 24 hours after receiving a request. Licensees must react promptly to NTC requests, and if the FFL is closed for some reason, they should make a workaround to provide the response.
Failure to respond to NTC’s request is regarded as a willful violation under the new federal regulations on tracing. This, of course, can be a basis for revocation under Biden’s zero-tolerance policy.
Responding to Requests
NTC typically asks an FFL to submit gun disposal information from the Firearms acquisition and disposition (A&D) book. Such information includes;
- The date of firearm transfer
- Details of the firearm transferee or receiver
- Additional transaction authentication, like Forms 4473 and 3310.4, can also be requested in some cases.
FFLs or licensees can respond to hun trace requests in four ways, as highlighted below.
Proper Response
A reply is considered a proper response if done promptly and accurately as specified by the regulation. All information and documentation requested by NTC should be submitted as soon as requested and not later than 24 hours.
Improper Response
A response provided more than 24 hours after the request is considered an improper response. That also applies to incorrect or incomplete information. Delayed and wrong responses are sometimes classified as no response.
Firearm Never Received
In rare cases, FFLs get trace requests for guns they did not receive. This could include lost/stolen firearms in transit or those wrongly transferred to a different FFL. NTC can also accidentally send a trace request to an FFL. Whatever the case, you are liable to respond within 24 hours. You will only need to state the firearm was never received.
No Response
While it is inexcusable to not respond to a trace request, some licensees don’t acknowledge or respond to NTC trace requests.
No response is among the willful violations that can lead to license revocation under ATF regulations and Biden’s Administration. Between 2016 and 2020, 102 such cases were cited by ATF.
0 Comments for “ATF Trace Requests and FFL Responses”