1140-0032 justification

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Supporting Statement – Information Collection Request

Records of Acquisition and Disposition, Collectors of Firearms

OMB # 1140-0032

1. Justification

1. The recordkeeping requirements as contemplated by 18 U.S.C. 923, under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), as amended, are for the primary purpose of facilitating ATF’s authority to inquire into the disposition of any firearm in the course of a criminal investigation. Because the regulations require uniform formats for recordkeeping, the records serve a major secondary purpose: they allow ATF compliance personnel to examine a licensee’s records with minimal interference in the licensee’s normal business operations. These compliance inspections are conducted under the authority of 18 U.S.C. 923 (g) (1) (A), (B), (C), and (D).

2. The records are established by licensees entering the required information into the proper record book as required by 27 CFR 478.125 (f). Many licensees use these records as backups for their accounting systems. ATF uses the information for criminal investigations or inspections for government purposes. The record retention requirement for this collection of information is 20 years.

3. Licensees enter the information according to a specific format required by 27 CFR 478.125 (f). The information (description of firearm, receipt, and disposition) must be recorded by the licensee not later than the close of the next business day following the date of such purchase or acquisition.. The records must be maintained in bound form under the specific format. A copy of the format is attached to this information collection. Because the information is recorded on the premises of the licensee and is maintained on the premises the use of automated technology is not involved. However, ATF will continue to investigate the use of improved information technology for the maintenance of required records.

4. The ATF subject classification system is used to identify duplication. No similar information is available regarding this information collection.

5. This collection of information has no significant impact on small businesses.

6. Less frequent collection of this information would pose a threat to public safety as the information is used for criminal investigations and inspections.

7. There are no special circumstances associated with this collection. This requirement is conducted in a manner consistent with 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. Within ATF, there are industry analysts who work with the industry and are aware of the industries needs and concerns. These concerns are taken into consideration for ATF’s information collections. A 60-day and 30-day notice was published in the Federal Register in order to solicit comments from the public. No comments were received.

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

10. The records are maintained at the premises of the licensee in a secured location . Confidentiality is not assured.

11. No records of a sensitive nature are maintained.

12. There are 45,973 respondents for this information collection. The respondent will respond 1 time annually. The total number of responses is 45,973. It is estimated that it take 3 hours per year to enter the information. The total burden associated with this collection is 137,919.

13. There is no new cost or annual cost associated with this collection.

14. There is no cost to the Federal Government.

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

16. The result of this information collection will not be published.

17. ATF does not request approval to not display the expiration date of OMB approval for this collection.

18. There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

2. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

This collection of information employs no statistical methods.

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