Title: A Progress Report: Gun Dealer Licensing and Illegal Gun Trafficking

Publication Date: January 1997

What does it say?

This progress report reviews efforts to reduce gun trafficking by corrupt or negligent federally licensed dealers during the Clinton Administration. The Brady law, in addition to requiring licensed dealers to conduct background checks on purchasers, also made changes to the dealer licensing system in order to minimize the risk of gun trafficking by corrupt or negligent licensed dealers. 

The Clinton Administration also expanded the strategic use of crime gun tracing data to reduce gun trafficking. These efforts identified that a very small percentage of licensed dealers were responsible for the majority of crime gun traces.

How can I use it?

Use this report as historical background to support stronger enforcement authority for ATF and to block the gun lobby’s attempt to weaken ATF’s ability to combat gun trafficking.

Citation

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Gun Dealer Licensing and Illegal Gun Trafficking, January 1997

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