Putting database software on the beat, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on Tuesday unveiled a national online system that will track crime weapons in an effort to crack down on illegal gun trafficking.
Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said ATF's Online LEAD program puts technology to work for law enforcement by quickly compiling gun data so agents can identify trends more quickly.
"This is in many way the most important and effective law enforcement," Summers said. "It's preventative."
The online database is only available via a closed ATF intranet that federal agents can access through its 331 field offices. Local and state law enforcement agencies that want access to the gun information would have to contact a field office and have an ATF agent call up the data. Prior to the new system, the ATF would ship diskettes with database information to its field offices.
ATF has tested the system since February in about 10 field offices. Agents can trace serial numbers on guns to the manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer and the first person that legally bought the weapon. It also can sort data by ZIP code so the agency can target hot spots for gun trafficking.
ATF officials emphasized that the information is stored on a stand-alone system and that data is encrypted before being sent over the agency's closed system.
"We have to be careful in sharing data so we don't jeopardize an investigation," said Wally Nelson, ATF's deputy assistant director for firearms, explosives and arson.
ATF Director John Magaw emphasized that the database is not a national gun registry, and that only guns recovered from crime scenes or those involved in crimes are included.
"There is no national registry," he said. "This has to be a crime gun and there has to be a serial number. It's only crime guns we're interested in."
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