18 USC 923 Licensing

18 USC 923

Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Part I Crimes

Chapter 44 Firearms

923 Licensing

(g)(1)(A) Each licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, and

licensed dealer shall maintain such records of importation, production,

shipment, receipt, sale, or other disposition of firearms at his place

of business for such period, and in such form, as the Secretary may by

regulations prescribe. Such importers, manufacturers, and dealers shall

not be required to submit to the Secretary reports and information with

respect to such records and the contents thereof, except as expressly

required by this section. The Secretary, when he has reasonable cause to

believe a violation of this chapter has occurred and that evidence

thereof may be found on such premises, may, upon demonstrating such

cause before a Federal magistrate judge and securing from such

magistrate judge a warrant authorizing entry, enter during business

hours the premises (including places of storage) of any licensed

firearms importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, licensed

collector, or any licensed importer or manufacturer of ammunition, for

the purpose of inspecting or examining--

(i) any records or documents required to be kept by such

licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or

licensed collector under this chapter or rules or regulations under

this chapter, and

(ii) any firearms or ammunition kept or stored by such licensed

importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed

collector, at such premises.

(B) The Secretary may inspect or examine the inventory and records

of a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer

without such reasonable cause or warrant--

(i) in the course of a reasonable inquiry during the course of a

criminal investigation of a person or persons other than the

licensee;

(ii) for ensuring compliance with the record keeping

requirements of this chapter--

(I) not more than once during any 12-month period; or

(II) at any time with respect to records relating to a

firearm involved in a criminal investigation that is traced to

the licensee; or

(iii) when such inspection or examination may be required for

determining the disposition of one or more particular firearms in

the course of a bona fide criminal investigation.