Press Release
☷Justice Department Announces Publication of Third Volume of National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ( By Press Release office)
Apr 06,2024
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A new report has come out analyzing firearms trafficking , and it ' s the first of its kind in over 20 years . The report is part of a larger assessment on commerce in firearms and how they end up in illegal markets . It includes input from special agents who investigate firearms trafficking and gives a detailed analysis of investigations from the past few years . The report shows that unlicensed dealers selling guns without background checks are becoming more common in crime scenes . The Justice Department is taking action by proposing a new rule to clarify when gun dealers need licenses and conducting background checks . They ' re also enforcing laws to prevent illegal gun trafficking . The report provides important insights for targeting investigations and reducing gun violence . It highlights the growing problem of unlicensed firearms dealers contributing to the black market , where criminals often get their guns . I just want to make it clear that illegal firearms trafficking is a serious crime with real consequences . You can ' t just supply weapons to violent individuals and wash your hands of any responsibility for the harm they cause . At ATF , we ' re constantly working to combat this issue with the help of our amazing partners . One interesting finding from our analysis is the growing use of intelligence to kick off trafficking investigations . We ' ve seen a rise in Crime Gun Intelligence Centers ( CGICs ) referrals , showing their value in cracking down on gun violence . We ' ve also noticed a shift in how firearms are being trafficked , with more cases involving illegal , unlicensed dealers and straw purchasers . It ' s clear that this problem spans across state lines , with certain regions being hotspots for trafficking . This is why the Attorney General has launched five firearms trafficking strike forces to tackle this issue head - on . Some interesting findings from the study period include: The most common violations of federal law in the investigations analyzed were dealing in firearms without a license , providing false information to a firearms dealer ( straw purchasing ) , and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon . Over 300 shootings involved firearms trafficked through unlicensed dealers , with handguns being the most trafficked type of firearm . The majority of traffickers were white males , while the end users were often previously convicted felons and young adults . The Department also released two volumes of the NFCTA , highlighting the importance of ATF ' s crime gun tracing authority and data from the NIBIN program . The report was compiled by a team of experts from ATF and academic fields , marking the first joint academic study of its kind in over two decades .
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