Title: Following the Gun: Enforcing Federal Laws Against Firearms Traffickers

Publication Date: June 2000

What does it say?

In 1998, Congress asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) for a performance report on the Youth Gun Crime Interdiction Initiative (YCGII). 

In response, ATF Headquarters requested all ATF Special Agents in Charge to provide information on all firearms trafficking investigations in their respective areas between July 1996 (the commencement date of YCGII) and December 1998 (the end of the last calendar year before February 1999). 

A survey was sent to each Field Division requesting information for each investigation. The 23 ATF Field Divisions submitted a total of 1,530 reports on gun trafficking investigations.  These reports represented only a portion of ATF's firearm trafficking investigations.

The targets of the ATF trafficking investigations during this period diverted a total of 84,128 firearms from legal to illegal commerce.  ATF found that corrupt gun dealers and gun shows were major gun trafficking channels.

How can I use it?

Use this report to advocate for a common sense comprehensive policy to help law enforcement prevent gun trafficking.  We can pass effective laws that make sense:  requiring Brady criminal background checks on all gun sales, not just those of licensed dealers; banning military-style assault weapons with high capacity magazines; limiting the number of handguns that can be bought at one time; and, giving law enforcement new legal authority to crack down on corrupt gun dealers.

Citation

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Following the Gun: Enforcing Federal Laws Against Firearms Traffickers, June 2000

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