Do Federal Gun Traces Accurately Reflect Street Crime: Small Fraction of Guns Selected for National Trace May Not Be Typical of Ordinary Crime Guns

• NCJ Number: 153792
• Author(s): D B Kopel
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services; Independence Institute
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Independence Issue Paper, No. 5-93, February 5, 1993.

Annotation

This paper examines the issue of assault weapon used in violent crime and analyzes Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) trace data regarding interstate gun-running and its impact on street crime.

Abstract

The data indicate that less than two percent of guns used in violent crimes annually are traced by ATF. While gun control advocates have used ATF data to claim that assault weapons are involved in approximately 10 percent of all violent crimes, this paper maintains that that assertion has been disproved by analysis of crime gun seizures carried out across the country. Gun control advocates also claim that 41 percent of guns used in violent crimes committed in New York City come from Virginia, although other States nearer to New York have weaker gun laws. However, ATF trace data does not distinguish guns stolen from Virginia from those legally bought there. This paper also argues that few of the guns coming from Virginia are actually involved in violent crimes; most are involved in nonviolent offenses, usually technical violations of New York City's handgun possession laws. 3 figures and 10 notes