The central office operates the following databases:
a database on the acquisition of weapons by foreign nationals who do not have a settlement permit (DEWA database);
a database on the acquisition of weapons by persons resident in another Schengen state (DEWS database);
a database on the withdrawal and refusal of permits, and the seizure of weapons (DEBBWA database);
a database on the transfer of army weapons to private ownership, and on conscripts and army personnel who are subject to an impediment to possessing a personal weapon under Article 113 of the Armed Forces Act of 3 February 19951(DAWA database);
a database on markings to trace firearms and their ammunition (DARUE database).
Every canton shall operate an electronic information system on the acquisition and possession of firearms.
In addition to the information system under paragraph 2, they may also operate a harmonised common information system on the acquisition and possession of firearms and designate a body that is responsible for merging and managing the data.
The information systems under paragraphs 1 and 3 may be consulted by users in accordance with their access rights by means of a single search request.
The Confederation may provide support for measures to harmonise the information systems defined under paragraphs 1–3.
The Federal Council defines the conditions that must be fulfilled in order to obtain funding from the Confederation under paragraph 5.