re: #162 kirkspencer

Point of interest. The ATF can’t, having been specifically told not to do so. The prohibition does not, however, extend to other departments and agencies. It’s probable that DoJ would be blocked for it, since BATF belongs to them. DHS (Homeland Security) on the other hand is relatively exempt, and has plenty of subordinate agencies for which such a database makes sense.

There’s also an outside chance for the Department of Commerce to maintain such a database.

There would, of course, be unhappiness. And a few quibbles of regulation and law would arise should the various agencies share their various databases (as required by other laws) with DoJ and BATF.

Not really, since only the ATF (and to a limited extent the FBI) has access to the required data and by statute both agencies are strictly limited in whom they can disclose such data to and for what purpose disclosure can be made. The disclosure rules are not part of a budget and would require an act of Congress to change them.