How The Gun Trafficking Problem In Maryland Compares To Other States

2022-09-07

The USA has practically 121 weapons per 100 individuals, in line with the Small Arms Survey, a Swiss-based analysis challenge. That determine could also be larger right now because it was reported within the group’s report revealed in 2018 and was already a rise from 88 weapons per 100 individuals in 2011. (These are states with probably the most gun purchases per particular person.)

With so many firearms legally or illegally transferring across the nation, regulation enforcement companies usually search to establish the origin and historical past of firearms they uncover at crime scenes. This job falls to the Nationwide Tracing Middle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The ATF traced the origin of 6,357 firearms in Maryland in 2020, and of these, 55.2%, or 3,509 weapons, originated from out of state, the fifth largest share amongst states.

Of the three,509 firearms traced in Maryland in 2020 that got here from a unique state, the biggest share – 1,070 – have been initially bought in Virginia.

You will need to observe that not all firearms are traced. Tracing happens when the ATF or every other U.S. regulation enforcement company discovers a firearm at a criminal offense scene and desires to study the place it got here from. A hint makes use of the gun’s serial quantity to establish the wholesale and retail historical past of the gun again to its unique producer or importer. Firearms with illegally eliminated serial numbers could be traced utilizing forensic experience and expertise, in line with the ATF.