A comprehensive study of criminal drug trafficking found that background checks save lives by preventing dangerous people from arming themselves and hurting others.
The fourth and final volume of the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment was released earlier this month by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF.
The series, requested by then President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland, is a comprehensive study of criminal gun trafficking across the nation.
Volume IV was compiled after years of research by experts from law enforcement and academia.
“This final volume of the NFCTA concludes the most comprehensive look at America’s crime gun data in over two decades and confirms that ATF’s advanced intelligence tools are vital to helping law enforcement nationwide solve gun crimes and take shooters off the streets,” said Garland. “This report reminds us of the importance of our work, and I am grateful to the extraordinary professionals of the ATF who put their lives on the line to help keep our communities safe.”
The report delivers a data-driven analysis critical to fighting violent crime and demonstrates an alarming surge in privately made firearms, more commonly known as ghost guns.
“At its core, Volume IV helps anyone who looks at the facts to identify how criminals get their guns, what type of guns they seek and where and how often they use them,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “While this report is a repository of invaluable information, the report’s most significant finding is that background checks are a crucial tool to help prevent felons, traffickers and other dangerous people from arming themselves and hurting others.
“While the decision about whether to expand background checks is certainly up to policy makers, this report’s immense data and expert analysis shows conclusively that background checks save lives — period.”
Volume IV: Recommendations to curb firearms trafficking
- Expand background checks
- Enhanced accountability in law enforcement firearm releases
- Strengthen and expand ATF’s crime gun intelligence
Volume IV: Ghost guns and machinegun conversion devices
- 92,702 ghost guns were recovered and reported between 2017 and 2023
- Number of ghost guns recovered in crimes surged nearly 1,600 percent (from 1,629 to 27,490) between 2017 and 2023
- Nearly 1,700 ghost guns connected to homicides between 2017 and 2023
- More than 4,000 ghost guns linked to other violent crimes between 2017 and 2023
- Recoveries of machinegun conversion devices increased 784 percent between 2019 and 2023
- Between 2000 and 2023, the number of firearms manufactured per 100,000 people increased by 113 percent, while the U.S. population grew by only 19 percent
- The manufacturing of firearm suppressors rose by more than 8,000 percent between 2000 and 2023
Further reading: Volumes I-IV
- Volume I: Firearms in Commerce
- Volume II: Crime Gun Intelligence and Analysis
- Volume III: Firearm Trafficking Investigations (2017-2021)
- Volume IV: Protecting America from Trafficked Firearms
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Crystal Graham
