Does it matter what race you are if you want to buy a gun? A group of Republican lawmakers say no.

Since 2012, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has asked gun purchasers to identify their race when they are filling out forms for background checks. Failure to comply with the request is considered an ATF violation and gun retailers with repeat omissions could be put out of business.

Two Republicans, Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn. and Ted Poe, R-Texas, want the questions related to ethnicity and race removed.

The aptly named FIREARM act - Freedom From Intrusive Regulatory Enforcement of Arbitrary Registration Mandates - would prohibit any disclosures about race on forms for firearm purchases.

"Law abiding citizens should never have to play 20 questions with Uncle Sam just to access their fundamental right to keep and bear arms," Black said. "The government has no legitimate reason to collect this information in the first place. That is why my bill would ban the ATF from requiring Americans to list their race or ethnicity in order to purchase a firearm."

For its part, the NRA said the information is used to locate those suspected of criminal behavior. Currently, those filling out the forms are asked whether they are black, Asian, American Indian, Hawaiian or white. On the ethnicity question, people are asked if they are Hispanic or Latino.

"This information can be helpful when tracing firearms used in crimes, to ensure the correct identification of an original purchaser and avoid misidentifications," ATF spokesman Corey Ray told The Hill.

The measure already has support from the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America and 11 House co-sponsors.