nc-heel why oh why do you insist on mis-quoting statues or fail to check what a freq asked question section references to make sure of the context.
as you can imagine at this point, you should realize 27 cfr 478.129(b) does not say what you quoted.
quote ...at least 20 years... unquote i believe is the exact time criteria referenced in the cfr's paragraph...a minimum length of time...not an absolute period of time!!
if business goes completely out of business the records are xported to atf for retention...prob to warehouse thirteen!!!
wabbit
I have not misquoted anything. I have directly quoted the ATF (the governing firearm authority in the U.S.) I quoted the ATF's frequently asked questions and answers and the ATF's official government web site referenced the cfr. Since you apparently know more than them you should contact them and correct them.
(b) Firearms transaction record. Licensees
shall retain each Form 4473 and
Form 4473(LV) for a period of not less
than 20 years after the date of sale or
disposition.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2005-title27-vol2/pdf/CFR-2005-title27-vol2-sec478-129.pdf
It says "not less", care to cite the source that you quote as saying "at least"? My definition of Quote...FOREVER...Unquote is not for a period of not less than 20 years.
The Gun Control act of 1968 requires importers to record the type, model, caliber or gauge, manufacturer, country of manufacture, and the serial number of each firearm imported or otherwise acquired, and the date such importation or other acquisition was made. The records of importation or other acquisition must be retained by the importer on the licensed premises
permanently. I would consider permanently to mean forever.
but....
From the office of the Director, U.S. Department of Justice BATFE 2011
...Under 27 CFR 478.129(d), the importer’s records of the sale or other disposition of firearms to licensees must be retained by the importer
for 20 years....
...In addition, under 27 CFR 478.122(d) licensed importers must maintain separate records of the sales or other dispositions of firearms made to
nonlicensees. These records must be maintained in the form and manner prescribed by regulations at 27 CFR 478.124, 478.125(e), and 478.125(i), with regard to firearms transaction records and records of firearms disposition. Under 27 CFR 478.129(d), the importer’s records of the sale or other disposition of firearms to
nonlicensees must be retained
for 20 years....
http://www.atf.gov/regulations-rulings/rulings/atf-ruling-2011-1.pdf
I don't think I need to continue citing any more instances where they say for 20 years. You have yet to cite where they say forever as you stated.
...I am sure Devin was referring to purchase from an FFL who are required to retain the PPP and the ATF Form 4473 'forever'!...
As many times as the Office of the Director references "for 20 years" for both licenses (FFL's) and "nonlicensees" (the public) I would consider the term "for a period of not less than 20 years" a long winded way of saying "for 20 years". It seems the Office of the Director does. If anyone would be an expert on ATF laws I think the Office of the Director of the BATFE would be.