The only restriction is by memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the agency receiving ATF's eTrace software.
[2] eTrace is an ATF computer system which provides on-line trace submission through the internet, and provides the utilities for submitting, retrieving, storing, and querying all firearms trace related information relative to the requestor's agency.
[3] Recently, according to a 2016 GAO report, in 2013, Mexico restricted eTrace access solely to the Mexican Attorney General Office.
[4] Foreign countries currently using eTrace include: Albania, Finland, Spain, Suriname, and the United Kingdom.
In a paper presented to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva, Switzerland, published in 2003, Gary L. Thomas, Chief, Firearms Programs Division, ATF, discussed the planned digitization of Out-of-Business dealer, importer, and manufacturer records, mentioned the projected cost, and noted it would not require any legislative or regulatory changes.
The conference agreement includes $4,200,000 for the ATF to hire additional contract personnel to continue the conversion and integration of records.
However, according to guns rights advocates, Appropriations Bills since 1979 have prohibited centralizing these same records: Provided, That no funds appropriated herein shall be available for salaries or administrative expenses in connection with consolidating or centralizing, within the Department of Justice, the records, or any portion thereof, of acquisition and disposition of firearms maintained by Federal firearms licensees:In the 2008, Appropriations Bill, the Tiahrt Amendment further restricted the disclosure of data from the Firearms Tracing System.
"[8] Despite these limitations, the CRS report notes "combined with multiple handgun sales reports and other investigative data, firearm trace data have proven to be a viable tool for ATF in targeting regulatory and investigative resources with greater effect.
"[8] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States government.