I have not bought a firearm since the "Instant Check" went into effect. I am not quite sure what information is given by the dealer to the Feds. On the form that is filled out to buy any firearm from a licensed Federal Firearms Dealer, You supply your name, date of birth, address, driver's license number and answer a number of questions that MUST be answered correctly or the firearm can not be delivered (and some of the questions are worded just oddly enought that you really have to read them to answer them correctly.)
From what I can see, the dealer would give the Feds, your name and DOB (date of birth.) Now, if you are an honest citizen and there are no sound alikes out there that have the same name and DOB and all the records are correct, you should be approved right then to buy the firearm. If the records are screwed up or there is another Gunz and Rosie out there with a DOB close to your yours and she has a criminal record, the purchase will be delayed or stopped. Additional information will have to be supplied to make the purchase.
All these records, of the purchase, were to be deleted after the permission was granted, but the FBI have decided that the law does not mean what it said in that regard and are keeping the records to "track firearms" after the sale.
Hope this helps some, I know if I have made any errors, somebody will correct me. I hope they are not to hard on me for what I have written. LOL
[This message has been edited by Jim V (edited May 07, 1999).]