Recently released data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives revealed that over a five-year period, more than 68,000 illegally trafficked firearms in the U.S. were traced back to unlicensed dealers who are not required to conduct background checks. This accounts for 54% of the illegally trafficked firearms between 2017 and 2021, leading to 368 shooting cases.
ATF Director Steve Dettelbach highlighted the challenges in investigating these cases, as unlicensed dealers do not keep records of their sales, making it difficult for federal agents to trace the weapons back to their original buyers. The report, ordered by Attorney General Merrick Garland, is the first comprehensive analysis of firearm trafficking investigations in over two decades, examining more than 9,700 closed ATF firearm trafficking cases.
Firearms trafficking involves intentionally moving guns into the illegal market for criminal purposes. The report identified straw purchases as the second-highest share of firearm-trafficking cases investigated by ATF, where individuals buy guns for those who cannot legally obtain them.
The data also revealed that nearly 60% of recipients of trafficked firearms had prior felony convictions. Additionally, trafficked firearms were used in nearly 25% of cases to commit further crimes, including over 260 murders and more than 220 attempted murders.
Dettelbach emphasized the link between illegal firearm trafficking and real violence in the nation, stating that those involved in such activities bear responsibility for the resulting harm. On average, 16 guns were trafficked per case, with individuals acquiring an average of 20 weapons through unlicensed dealers compared to 11 guns for straw buyers.
In response to these findings, the Biden administration has proposed a rule that would require more gun sellers to obtain licenses and conduct background checks. While the Justice Department aims to target sellers engaged in firearm sales as a business, the proposal has faced opposition from gun-rights groups who fear its potential impact on private gun sales.
