Title: ATF Firearms Trace Data - 2008

Publication Date: August 03, 2009

What does it say?

This limited release of tracing data identifies, for each state, the top 15 source states for guns recovered in crime in 2008.  Police recovered and submitted for tracing 247,568 crime guns.

How can I use it?

Your state's report will allow you to calculate the number and percent of guns recovered in crime that come from gun dealers in your state vs. other states.  A Brady Center analysis of the data shows that states with strong gun laws tend to do a better job than weak gun law states of stopping the diversion of guns from retail sale to the illegal market, and states with weak gun laws are big exporters of crime guns to other states.

The data can be used to show legislators that more needs to be done to stop diversion of guns from retail sale into the illegal market.

At the same time, ATF's 2008 trace data reports show the negative impact of federal restrictions on access to trace data (known as the Tiahrt restrictions).  Because of these restrictions, in effect since 2003, ATF's reports do not include information to identify which gun dealers exhibit “trafficking indicators” as defined by ATF (such as multiple crime gun traces, short “time to crime” for traced guns, or frequent multiple sales).  The public has a right to have access to this important crime-fighting information.

Citation

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, ATF Firearms Trace Data Reports, 2008, August 3, 2009