The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is ending its long-criticized Demand 2 Program, according to a confirmation obtained by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
The move marks a significant shift in how the agency handles firearm trace data—and a win for gun retailers who’ve long argued the program unfairly painted them as complicit in crimes they had nothing to do with.
What Was the Demand 2 Program?
Launched in 2000 under the Clinton administration, the Demand 2 Program required firearm dealers to report when 25 or more guns sold by their shop were traced back to crime scenes within a three-year window—what the ATF called “time-to-crime.”
But critics say the policy allowed gun control advocates and sympathetic media outlets to misuse this trace data in “name-and-shame” campaigns that damaged lawful businesses and risked public safety.
“Firearm retailers who follow the law were being targeted simply because criminals later misused guns they sold legally,” said NSSF Senior VP and General Counsel Lawrence Keane. “This is a welcome step forward.”
While ATF’s stated goal was to use the data to aid investigations, past leaks of Demand Letter 2 lists—such as those involving the Washington, D.C. Metro Police Department—fueled controversy. The department became the sole FFL in D.C. for a time, handling legal firearm transfers. Yet when firearms they had legally processed ended up in crimes, they too were flagged under the program.
“It wasn’t because D.C. police did anything wrong,” Keane said. “It’s because the data doesn’t distinguish between criminal intent and legal sales.”
NSSF has been especially critical of former ATF Director Steve Dettelbach, who, in violation of federal law, reportedly shared protected trace data with media and advocacy groups like Brady United. The Tiahrt Amendment—which Congress continues to support—strictly limits public access to such sensitive data to protect investigations and law enforcement.
ATF’s Own Words Undermine the Program
Even the ATF’s own historical reports have emphasized that appearance in trace data doesn’t imply wrongdoing. In its 1998 Crime Gun Trace Analysis, the agency wrote:
“The appearance of [a licensed dealer] or a first unlicensed purchaser of record in association with a crime gun… in no way suggests that either… has committed criminal acts.”
Legislative Support for Stronger Protections
The end of Demand 2 isn’t just a policy shift—it comes amid renewed legislative support to keep trace data private.
NSSF has thrown its support behind Rep. Clay Higgins’ bill, H.R. 1698, the Law Enforcement Protection and Privacy Act. The measure would reinforce the Tiahrt Amendment by holding violators accountable for misusing or leaking firearm trace data.
“This bill puts teeth in the law,” Keane said, calling it vital to ensuring trace data stays in the hands of investigators—not activists.
What’s Next?
While ATF has not yet made a formal public announcement, NSSF expects one soon. For now, the firearm industry is welcoming the end of a program many viewed as more political than practical.
Bottom Line:
The end of the ATF’s Demand 2 Program is a major win for firearm retailers, law enforcement integrity, and the rule of law. It sends a clear message: protecting public safety shouldn’t come at the cost of smearing law-abiding businesses.
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