What is the ATF doing with Gun Registries?

After leaked documents reveal that ATF collected records about 54 million gun owners in the past year, questions arise. The ATF claims that a database can be searched easily, but because the data they have unconstitutionally collected is too dense to even attempt to sort through, it doesn’t technically constitute one. The ATF may consider this data useless, raising questions about why they would waste their time collecting it. While it is well-known that many government employees are paid high salaries for doing little work, it seems that the ATF staff are not lazy. The ATF seized 54 million records, mostly electronic but some paper, during the 2021 fiscal year and stored them. Although these records don’t indicate the creation or existence of a registry, the spokesperson for the ATF stated that they do. However, this is the same organization that claimed that the Branch Davidians opened fire. The agenda is clear: unconstitutional rule changes, the nomination of a gun-grabber as the ATF head, and the ban on Russian ammunition imports are just a few examples. These facts make it easy for gun owners in America to be suspicious of such a large record-collecting operation. Anyone who is aware of the infrequentity that gun records lead to arrests for violent criminals should be suspicious. This suggests that the ATF had other motives for making such a huge effort. These are the reasons that should make every American worry about federal actions regarding firearms. The current administration has already proposed banning pistol stabilizing braces. This common-use item helps many Americans with disabilities defend themselves and engage in shooting sports. They propose that gun shops would not be allowed to destroy records after 20 years (the current rule), and would have them maintained permanently until they surrender their FFL licensure. 54 million records were obtained from FFLs that had closed down. The new rule would allow gun stores to keep their records for 20 years, but they would have to keep them permanently until they surrender their FFL license.