justific 1140-0043

Department of Justice

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Supporting Statement

OMB Number 1140-0043

National Tracing Center Trace Request, ATF F 3312.1

1. Justification

1. The ATF Form 3312.1 is used by Federal, State, local and international law enforcement officials to request that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) trace firearms used or suspected to have been used in crimes. The form is also used by these respondents to refer information to ATF regarding obliterated serial numbers on firearms and suspect guns (firearms believed to be in the possession of individuals involved in illegal trafficking in firearms). The purpose of these information referrals is to allow ATF to generate investigative leads regarding illegal firearms trafficking activity. The information is collected from law enforcement officials on a strictly voluntary basis.

ATF has specific statutory authority to require licensees to cooperate with tracing requests. 18 U.S.C. S 923(a) (1)(D)(7) requires licensees to respond immediately to and in no event later than 24 hours after a request for information that is contained in their records. ATF may inspect a licensee’s records without reasonable cause or a warrant when necessary for determining the disposition of one or more particular firearms in the course of a bona fide criminal investigation. 18 U.S.C. S 923(g)(1)(B)(iii). Licensees are also required to respond to telephone requests from ATF in conjunction with the tracing of a firearm in the course of a criminal investigation. 18 U.S.C. S 923(g)(7).

Thus, when a firearm is recovered at a crime scene, ATF has authority to examine the records of the manufacturer or importer to determine the name of the licensee to whom the firearm was transferred. In many cases, ATF can then trace the firearm to the individual purchaser through the records of the Federal firearms licensee. The tracing of a firearm is a valuable law enforcement technique, and is one of the most important ways in which ATF fulfills its statutory responsibility to assist State and local law enforcement officials in their fight against crime and violence

Initially this information collection consisted of 2 forms, ATF F 3312.1, National Tracing Center Trace Request and ATF F 3312.2, National Tracing Center Obliterated Serial Number Trace Request. This submission consolidates the 2 forms into 1 form, ATF F 3312.1, National Tracing Center Trace Request. The general information is the same and with this consolidation, all applicable information can be captured whether the firearm being traced has been altered or not on one single form. The time it takes the respondent to complete the form remains the same.

2. ATF Form 3312.1 is used by Federal, State, local, and international law enforcement officials who wish to request a trace on a crime gun, provide information to ATF regarding obliterated serial numbers on firearms, or make a suspect gun entry. This data is used by the ATF National Tracing Center to trace firearms used in crimes and to generate investigative leads by analyzing information regarding firearms with obliterated serial numbers and suspect guns.

3. Currently, approximately 40 per cent of the tracing request received by ATF from state and local law enforcement officials are forwarded through electronic transmission. ATF is making significant efforts to allow more state and local law enforcement agencies to transmit tracing requests electronically. Through batch download software provided by the Federal government, many larger police departments can download information regarding specific firearms directly to the ATF National Tracing Center. In this way, a police department can easily transmit information that is already captured on its own computer database. ATF expects that the percentage of responses transmitted electronically will increase in the future due to the availability of more sophisticated computer software.

4. ATF uses a uniform subject classification system to identify duplication and to ensure that any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose of this information collection.

5. The collection of this information would have no impact on small business of other small entities.

6. ATF has no control over the frequency of these voluntary submissions. Respondents submit the form only as often as they wish to request a trace of a crime gun or provide information to ATF regarding firearms with obliterated serial numbers or suspect guns.

7. This collection is conducted in a manner with the requirements in 5 C.F.R. 1320.6

8. ATF regularly consults with State and local law enforcement officials regarding the information that is need in order to conduct useful traces to help fight crime and violence. A 60-day and 30-day notice was published in the Federal Register in order to solicit comments from the public. ATF did not receive any comments regarding the 60-day notice nor the 30-day notice.

9. No payment or gift is associated with this collection.

10. The confidentiality of the identity of the respondent is generally protected under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. S 522.

11. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked.

12. The number of respondents associated with this collection is 112,123. The number of responses is 224,246. Each respondent responds 2 times. It is estimated that half of the 224,246 responses will be submitted electronically. It takes an estimated 6 minutes to complete the form. The total burden for this information collection is 22,425.

13. There is no cost to the respondent because of the fact that responses were submitted either electronically or by fax.

14. The cost to the Federal government is printing which is estimated as $1,000.00

15. There are no program changes or adjustments associated with this collection.

16. The results of this collection will not be published. The information provided is for investigative purposes.

17. ATF requests authorization to omit printing the expiration date for ATF Forms 3312.1. Printing the expiration date on this form will result in increased cost because of the need to replace inventories that become obsolete by passage of the expiration date each time OMB approval is renewed. The time period during which the current edition of the form will continue to be usable cannot be predicted. It could easily span several cycles of review and OMB clearance renewal. In addition, usage, fluctuates un predictably. This makes it necessary to maintain a significant inventory of forms in the supply lines at all times. For these reasons, ATF requests authorization to omit printing the expiration date on the form for this submission.

18. There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

2. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

None

3