On the recordOctober 21, 1998
I do not believe the law could be any clearer. The NICS statute is transparent and unambiguous on the point that the instant check system ``shall destroy'' such records. Subsection (t)(2) of 18 United States Code, Section 922, is clearly drafted so that destruction of an approved firearms transaction and personal identifying records shall occur contemporaneously upon the system's approval of the firearms transfer, the assignment of a unique identifying number, and upon the immediate voice or electronic conveyance of such approval and unique identifying number to the federal firearms dealer making the NICS inquiry.
Source
govinfo.gov




