Purchase of Firearms Using a Counterfeit Federal Firearms License
GAO-02-383RNI
Published: Mar 13, 2002. Publicly Released: Mar 13, 2002.
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Highlights
GAO purchased a firearm from a licensed federal firearms dealer using a counterfeit license. GAO also reviewed two instances in which individuals purchased firearms using counterfeit or altered licenses. The Federal Firearms License (FFL) eZ Check System allows a licensed firearms dealer to authenticate the license of another licensed dealer. Use of the FFL eZ Check System is currently not mandatory, although the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has announced that it intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to make such use mandatory.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms | ATF should prevent individuals from obtaining easy access to license numbers by eliminating the last five digits of the FFL license numbering sequence from publicly available FFL lists. Further, at the present time, there is no solution that would prevent a user logging onto the system with a legitimate FFL license from changing the last number of the license and obtaining information concerning another legitimate FFL. |
Closed – Not Implemented
GAO is not certain what happened in response to this recommendation. Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
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Topics
CrimesFirearmsFraudInternetLaw enforcement information systemsLicensesNational instant criminal background check systemGun ControlFreedom of informationFederal rulemaking