Federal gun records will now be destroyed after 20 or 30 years, ending indefinite tracing
What happened
The US Justice Department wants to stop keeping firearm sales records forever. Federal agents would only keep them for 20 or 30 years.
Why it matters
For decades, federal agents could trace a gun's ownership history as far back as records existed. This proposal puts a hard limit on that ability. After 20 or 30 years, those records would be destroyed, making it impossible to trace older firearms.
The signal
Watch for public comments from law enforcement agencies and gun rights groups during the comment period, and how the Justice Department responds to their concerns.