Republican Congressman Introduces Bill to Block ATF’s Backdoor Gun Registry 

Republican Congressman Introduces Bill to Block ATF’s Backdoor Gun Registry 
President Joe Biden is looking for ways to stick it to gun owners. Many pro-2A advocates believe a backdoor gun registry at the ATF is one such tactic. (Photo: Whitehouse.gov/Youtube)

Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) introduced a bill this week that would prevent the federal government from compiling a backdoor gun registry.

Known as the “No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your (REGISTRY) Rights Act,” it would require the federal government to destroy firearms transaction records of gun shops (FFLs) that have gone out of business.

Currently, the government stores these records indefinitely.  

It’s estimated that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has approximately 1 billion firearms transaction records in its possession, as GunsAmerica previously reported.  

Roughly, 94 percent of those records have been digitized.  

The ATF disclosed this information about the capture of sales records just last month, after a back and forth with concerned lawmakers, which is undoubtedly what prompted Rep. Cloud to pen the REGISTRY Rights Act, along with the forty-four other Republicans who co-sponsored the legislation.  

The bill would also block the ATF from changing a longstanding regulation that allows FFLs to destroy sales records after 20 years.  

SEE ALSO: ATF Admits It Has Nearly 1 Billion Gun Records, GOP Lawmakers Ask, ‘How Is This Not a Registry?’

The ATF is pushing to force FFLs to hang on to all their sales records indefinitely, which means that unless a gun store stays open forever, eventually, all records will end up in the hands of the federal government.  

“The Biden administration continues to threaten the rights of law-abiding Americans while turning a blind-eye to criminals and corruption,” Cloud said in a statement to The Texan. “Texas gun owners are rightfully concerned that this administration is willing and able to create a federal gun registry, and it’s Congress’ job to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

“My bill would dismantle ATF’s database as a whole—restoring privacy for American gun owners and reversing the steps taken by the Biden administration to create a federal firearms registry,” Cloud continued.

The legislation would also require the ATF to disclose the number of records it destroys per the bill.  

Co-sponsors include Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Louie Gohmert (R-TX-01), Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) and Brian Babin (R-TX-36).

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of steam, if any, it generates in the Democratically-controlled House. We’ll keep you posted.

  • michael moore April 29, 2022, 1:04 pm

    I AM SO SICK OF THESE COMMIE BASTARDS TRYING TO DISARM The AMERICAN PATRIOTS “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED ON” That is A RIGHT Not A PRIVILEGE !!! JOE BIDEN Can GIVE ARE ENEMIES THOUSANDS Of WEAPON & MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND THINK IT’S OK ? BUT HE WANTS TO DISARM The GOOD AMERICAN CITIZENS !!! FOLKS This PRESIDENT JOE & HIS GROUP OF FOOLS Are the ENEMIES OF AMERICA !!!

  • chumley March 14, 2022, 1:59 pm

    The notion that digitized records could ever really be “destroyed” is absurd. (Hilliar’s emails excepted)
    Some future rogue leftist regime would dig up every detail they desire when they’ve succeeded in selling (or coercing) the populace on the need for firearm confiscation.

  • Jon March 14, 2022, 7:25 am

    What about the ass hat Republicans that just betrayed us by voting for anti gun legislation in the woman’s violence act. Backstabbers must go.

    • Larry March 14, 2022, 2:12 pm

      Another idiot here, typical of this list of myopic, self-righteous, ignorant follower of the group of anti-democratic, short-sighted, greedy Republicans.
      Biden ain’t gonna take our guns, don’t worry you’ll still be able to be in bed with your guns at your side an d ready to be stroked.
      Wake-up all you brain dead lemmings that adhere to the general stupidity, the out and out lies headed by that little sniveling, whiner tucker on Fascist State tv, fox.. try using and awakening your brain = THINK – if you listened to the BS from the afore-mentioned groups, it’s really quite easy to hear the inconsistencies and lies. But most stupid folks put their brains asleep years ago and couldn’t tell a lie from the truth because they DON’T WANT TO HEAR it….compliance bias running smoke amongst the republished and trump ass-kissers!

      • Armed and Dangerous March 14, 2022, 10:06 pm

        Larry, you’re the idiot here. If you don’t think the dems are trying take guns away, you’re not listening. Beto said it. “Yes, we’re going to take away your AR-15’s and your AK 47’s.” If you think they’ll stop there you’re delusional. Australia didn’t think it would happen there either. Neither did Great Britain. Maybe you don’t like guns and I wouldn’t tell you that you have to have one, just don’t tell me I can’t or shouldn’t. There have already been bills introduced and defeated that would have further restricted our gun rights. Oh yea, the democrats are basically anti gun and would prefer to repeal the 2nd amendment. If the 2nd amendment ever falls, the rest won’t be far behind.

  • Stan d. Upnow March 12, 2022, 4:29 am

    ATF…. Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms

    That’s a party! So, who’s bringing the chips and dip?*

    *(federal agents are NOT invited)

  • Stan d. Upnow March 12, 2022, 4:12 am

    No surprise here. With the power-mad Progressive-Socialists trying desperately to secure their grip on the federal govt. through deceptive “voting rights” acts and other legislation, their over-blown reaction to Jan. 6 gave them a tiny taste of what an enraged populace might do. They are wetting their pants imagining a million armed citizens storming the halls of Congress to take back our govt. and way of life.
    The operative word here is “armed.” The Leftists have openly expressed their desire to follow after England, Australia, and many other countries in dispossessing the general public from firearms ownership.

  • Kate March 11, 2022, 4:21 pm

    All I have to say is.. We’d better start thinking of ‘something’ to stand up to these anti-American demons before they cage us in like they did the Branch Davidians without a care..

    BTW did you see Clinton shed a single tear over what he allowed to happen to the children there or Janet Reno (the ‘go to’ mystery woman – that very little is known about)??

  • sfvshooter March 11, 2022, 4:05 pm

    I submit paperwork every time I purchase firearms so I already assume they have everything they need about me.

    • Armed and Dangerous March 14, 2022, 10:20 pm

      sfvshooter,
      The federal government has no record of your firearm purchase. The federal form 4473 is held by the selling dealer for a period of 20 years. The NICS check does not have the firearm listed on it, only the type of firearm ie pistol, rifle shotgun etc. No serial number make or model. The FFL dealer is not required to furnish the form 4473 to the ATF without a warrant.

      • Joey Hamrick July 25, 2022, 4:45 pm

        @ armed an dangerous, I’m not trying to piss on your shoulder an then tell you it’s raining but you contradicted yourself in your back to back responses, “ No serial number make or model.”
        Again, I could be mistaken but it does appear to be conflicting statements, could you please clarify this statement

  • Mike Colorado March 11, 2022, 2:18 pm

    It is definitely time for term limits in congress and wealth restrictions while in congress and the senate while in office.

    1.Term limits
    2. Wealth restrictions while in office for them and their immediate family.
    3. Salary cap except for cost of living increases only (COLA).
    4. No more one hundred percent full benefit retirement for 4 years of being in office.
    5. No more top of the line health care, they get the same health care we get.
    6. No more making laws that benefit them and screw us.
    7. No more three tiered judicial system that benefits them while the true rule of the law is for us.

    We have let the elitist whoops let me rephrase that oligarchs on both sides of the aisle live a life of privilege, wealth, better retirement, better health care all the while they pass bills that take more money out of our pockets making it hard to make ends meet and then looking us in the face and stating we did it for you to make your life better. America is getting ready to feel pain like it has never felt before when gas hits $7.00 a gallon in August of this year and when third world country type violent crime and terrorist incidents start happening in our country. Do your own research if you don’t believe my post over 50% of congress and the senate are millionaires and they really show their love for the people of this nation. To rule us they have to disarm us, because right now we are really close to not being America any more except in name only. We were energy independent then to shut down that energy independence and going back to OPEC and buying oil from our enemies and not being energy independent for our own national security. I don’t know about y’all but I smell a rat! No nation gives up its own security to purchase oil from it’s enemies. So yes they have started a registry to try to find a way to disarm us or make us register every weapon that we have, Trust me They are going to try to make criminals out of millions if they don’t register legally purchased firearms that have a brace on them as an SBR. Yep I smell a rat!

  • timothy keller March 11, 2022, 12:44 pm

    unless the gop adds criminal liability to atf agents that doesnt abide by such a proposed law, then its useless, the atf is no better than the fbi or almost all govmnt agencies, they will do what they want ,the law be damned, if noone can be held responsible then its just bullshit on paper

  • ej7447 March 11, 2022, 12:14 pm

    Notice how the Republicans never do this type of thing when they have the majority in both houses……all for show it seems……..12 years total is enough for any one person to serve in Congress…….my opinion.

  • Bad Bill March 11, 2022, 12:12 pm

    Now – assuming the bill is passed and signed – all that is left to do is ensure that ATF obeys it. The way they break other laws they disagree with that would bear watching.

    • Stan d. Upnow March 12, 2022, 4:20 am

      LOL! You actually think that bill will get through Congress? Then, you think The Puppet will be directed to sign it into law? If so, I have some nice lakefront property on Mars to sell you.

  • Kenneth Hoffman March 11, 2022, 12:12 pm

    For years gun owners were told that the Form 4473 was destroyed after you are “approved” to purchase the gun and it is transferred. So much for that lie. The posterior depressions at ATF are the loose cannons they are supposed to be keeping away from firearms. Just another lie from OUR government who wants to control everything in our lives. The act is just that — an act by our useless Republicans.

    • Armed and Dangerous March 14, 2022, 10:51 pm

      Kenneth, I don’t know where you got your information but the federal form 4473 does not go to the ATF. It is held by the FFL for 20 years and only revealed to the ATF by warrant. That would be in the case the firearm is recovered from a crime.

  • D.J. March 11, 2022, 11:49 am

    My sincere opinion is Mr. Cloud’s efforts are too little, too late .

    When this whole ordeal was passed during the pervert-in-chief’s (Clinton’s)
    regime , the “ thugs “ were supposed to destroy those records in a timely
    manner . All of ( most of ) us knew they were full of “ sierra “ . It was registration
    under a false promise .

    Our Government wonders why we don’t trust them ? Can anyone tell me why we
    would ? Only a fool would believe a group of serial liars .

    • Armed and Dangerous March 14, 2022, 11:26 pm

      The NICS check has no record of the particular gun you’re buying. It’s simply a background check. The federal form 4473 has the firearm info ie make, model, serial no. The 4473 is held by the FFL dealer for a period of 20 years. The only way the ATF can access the 4473 is by warrant whereas they have a firearm used in a crime or when a dealer goes out of business in which case the FFL’s records are turned over to the ATF.

  • perlcat March 11, 2022, 11:10 am

    The GOP actually getting off their backsides and doing what we elected them for? I hereby take back one or two of the things I’ve been saying about them.

  • Hondo March 11, 2022, 8:44 am

    ATF is a criminal organization and the republicans are as useful as tits on a bull.

  • Bill March 11, 2022, 7:59 am

    Good job!!The ATF is out of control and legislation & court cases is needed to stop them from using their own defination for words!

  • Kb31416 March 11, 2022, 6:38 am

    Heaven forbid that the alcohol and tobacco folks would be compelled to abide by the law, even existing laws.
    Unfortunately this is just political theater designed to elicit responses like the preceding article.
    Looks like it worked.
    The real test will be if such a law was proposed, AND PASSED, when the GOP was fully in charge, like in 2016-17. Hearing Protection Act? ….

  • Bob Stovall March 11, 2022, 6:27 am

    The BATF should never have been created but, since it has, it should be disbanded and banned for all time and all of the resources it consumes annually apportioned back to the states proportionate by population. This is the agency that, first off, provoked a confrontation with the Branch Davidians, an organization for which I had even LESS use than the BATF, but, having provoked that confrontation, launched a blatantly illegal frontal assault that, immediately, resulted in the deaths of four of its agents and, ultimately, in the deaths of, literally DOZENS of children and women. It should have been disbanded then and those who lead the agency and, particularly, that raid, should have spent a couple of decades in federal prison for their blatant criminal acts. Instead, virtually all of them got promotions and fat pensions.

    • Mark March 11, 2022, 7:34 am

      You are 100% correct on you statement. and Just what part of
      >>> The Right to bear arms << ( Shall NOT be INFRINGED ) does the GOVT. and ATF not understand ???????

  • Ger March 11, 2022, 5:04 am

    Look, I get that we need stories like this to keep our morale up during the occupation, but let’s not kid ourselves – this is never going to see the light of day unless or until our side takes back the government. Until then, it’s just virtue-signaling that we approve of.

  • Judy Campbell March 11, 2022, 4:03 am

    How do you find someone who can help to put together a ghost gun.

    • mark March 11, 2022, 7:37 am

      where are you? talk to one of your local gun shops or go to your shooting range and ask around

    • Thoughtful March 11, 2022, 8:17 am

      It is illegal to have “someone” help you assemble a so-called “ghost gun”. “Ghost gun” is a pejorative used by ANTI-2nd Amendment…..is that you Judy? The law currently says you can assemble your own, but overzealous prosecutors have used “help” as an illegal act. If indeed this is a legitimate question, your answer is easy, follow the instructions typically provided with so-called 80% receivers.

    • Hondo March 11, 2022, 8:39 am

      Don’t be silly Judy, everyone knows you go to Casper the friendly ghost gun maker. He will hook you up.

    • chumley March 14, 2022, 2:01 pm

      Hello Agent Judy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Send this to a friend