That is the reason that they'll next push for national gun registration. Without it, background checks are useless to track firearms bought and sold.
While this is the truth, its not the "truth" being sold to the public about background checks. What they tell the public about the purpose of background checks has NOTHING to do with being able to track guns.
One can, and should do background checks with no mention of the firearm at all. After all, you are SUPPOSED to be checking the PERSON's background.
This COULD be done. One could, even, check every single (legal) person in the country, and put a code on their ID/driver's license/passport/smart ID, or whatever. And, only do it once. NOT every freakin time you buy/transfer a firearm. People don't become prohibited persons overnight, it takes a CONVICTION in court, and that same court could order the old ID surrendered and new one issued. Forgery is still an issue, but that's a CRIME by gosh...Point being such a system would work, would be non-invasive to gun owners, and wouldn't require trips to FFL dealers to have the check run.
BUT, that is not what we are being offered and so far everything proposed that is not what the other side is offering (which includes a built in need for registration & tracking the GUN) is totally unacceptable to them. They won't even discuss alternatives to their pipe dreams.
Also remember to consider the source when they spout lies about how 98% of Americans favor background checks (or what ever their pet project it). First of you can't get 98% of people to agree on what color the sky is or if the sun will rise tomorrow morning.
Second, its not 98% (or whatever percent they claim) of Americans, ever. Its a percentage of the people they ASKED, and then, on top of that, it depends on what question is asked, and what the possible (and allowed) choices are.
Every time I hear of poll results, I remember a political cartoon from the early 70s where a (door to door) poll taker asks, "if the election were held tomorrow, who would you vote for?
A) Richard Nixon
B) Santa Claus
C) Easter Bunney
Am also reminded of a fellow I knew, who got on some poll list back during the Clinton years. Every 2-3 months they would call him and ask how he felt about the President, and the job he was doing.
The fellow was about as political as a rock, didn't care, and so just to be nice, told them he was fine with the Pres and the job he was doing. After a couple years of that, he decided to tell them something different and see what happened. The next time they called, he told them he was very unhappy with the Pres and he was doing a terrible job.
They never called him again.....
Just because they tell us something is so does not it is actually so...