Sure. There are lots of databases that are illegal for the federal government to maintain so they just let private industry do it and pay them for access.
For the most part, it's illegal for the feds to put together anything that looks like, for example, Accurint. But Accurint makes a great deal of money selling their data to the feds.
benenglish,
That is yet another reason to BOYCOTT Wal-Mart until/unless their "new policy" is REVERSED PERMANENTLY, ALL RECORDS on customers' gun/ammo sales are DESTROYED, the corporate CEO goes onto NATIONAL TV, DISAVOWS their "new policy on guns & ammo" & OPENLY also CONDEMNS the ANTI-GUN MORONS.
Our family, for just one of MANY, will BOYCOTT W-M forever, unless they DO all of the above. = NOTHING that W-M sells is only available there.
(Fyi, I collect antique cars & USED TO BUY my tires, batteries & other auto supplies at W-M. = The company has LOST my business & that of our entire family.)
Note: TARGET & DICK'S have also lost our business, PERMANENTLY.
yours, satx