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Federal Firearms Licensee Data: ATF's Compliance with Statutory Restrictions

GGD-96-174 Published: Sep 11, 1996. Publicly Released: Oct 11, 1996.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed various aspects of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' (ATF) operations, focusing on ATF compliance in meeting specific legislative restrictions in 18 U.S.C. 926(a) regarding federal firearms licensee data.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Sort descending Recommendation Status
Department of the Treasury The Secretary of the Treasury should require the Director, ATF, to review ATF firearms data systems and information practices to ensure that they comply with the appropriation rider.
Closed – Implemented
Between December 1, 1996, and January 10, 1997, ATF's Inspection Division reviewed ATF's National Firearms Act Project LEAD and Firearms Tracing System database and found them to be in compliance with existing and proposed appropriations legislation.
Department of the Treasury The Secretary of the Treasury should require the Director, ATF, to report the results of these actions to the Subcommittee in conjunction with the ATF fiscal year 1998 budget submission.
Closed – Implemented
ATF reported the results of its review of its National Firearms Act, Project LEAD and Firearms Tracing System databases to Treasury's Office of Budget on February 5, 1997. Treasury decided not to include the results in the ATF fiscal year 1998 budget submission but subsequently provided the results under separate cover to the subcommittee.

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Topics

Appropriation limitationsDatabasesFirearmsGun control lawInformation resources managementLaw enforcement agenciesLaw enforcement information systemsLicensesStatutory lawGun Control