Where do my Background Check Forms go? - The Legal Brief
This video explains the lifecycle of the ATF Form 4473 after a firearm purchase. Licensed dealers must retain these forms for at least 20 years. Upon business discontinuation, records are sent to the ATF Out of Business Record Center in West Virginia. Federal law prohibits the creation of a searchable registry of non-NFA firearms, meaning the ATF cannot link specific individuals to firearms through these records.










