On MTP, Hugh Hewitt suggested large (didn't specificy a number) firearm purchases could be 'red flagged' as multiple opioid prescriptions are.
Buy two handguns on the same day, and it trips a flag with the BATF.
Buy one each day of the week, and it may not, especially if you go to different dealers.
Paddock bought from multiple dealers. The last gun purchased the day of the shooting was a bolt action rifle, which though bought hours before the shooting, did not show up at the crime scene (location unknown).
Now, it was the BATF that told (yes,
told) dealers to okay the sales of guns involved in the "Fast and Furious" operation, a dozen at a time. Those guns promptly went out of the country to drug cartels, as anticipated, with no way to track them other than to blame American gun dealers after the guns were recovered from crime scenes.
They knew about it, it didn't prevent anything, it facilitated it.
We have two gun shows a year in this area, in state. That means unless I want to travel (250 mile round trip) to 'adjacent' gun shows, I have two buying opportunities aside form local dealers. I might not see anything I want, I might see three or four firearms I want, and if I can afford them, I'd buy them. None of that implies criminal activity. You aren't limited to one loaf of bread or one dozen eggs at the grocery store, either.