The Top 5 U.S. States that Exported the Most Guns used to Commit a Crime in Another State

  Source State Number of Crime Guns Exported
1 Georgia 2,781
2 Florida 2,640
3 Virginia 2,557
4 Texas 2,240
5 Indiana 2,011
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 Special Report
  1. In 2009, just ten states supplied nearly half - 49% - of the guns that crossed state lines before being recovered in crimes. Together, these states accounted for nearly 21,000 interstate crime guns recovered in 2009. When controlling for population, Mississippi, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alaska, Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Nevada, and Georgia export crime guns at the highest rates. These states export crime guns at more than seven times the rate of the ten states with the lowest crime gun export rates.(a.)
  2. According to ATF, virtually all guns recovered in crimes were originally sold by licensed gun dealers ("Federal Firearm Licensees" or "FFLs") within the U.S. These guns enter the illegal market through a number of channels, including theft and robbery, gun dealers who participate in illegal or negligent sales, straw purchasers who buy guns on behalf of criminals, and subsequent sales by unlicensed, private sellers at gun shows and elsewhere, who are not required by federal law to conduct background checks. (a.)
  3. During an average year in the United States: 31,224 people die from gun violence. More than 100,000 of them are shot in murders, assaults, suicides, accidents or by police intervention. 12,632 people are murdered with guns. 3,067 children and teens die from gun violence. 683 children and teens commit suicide with guns. 351 people are killed by police intervention. 17,352 people kill themselves. 679 are shot and injured during police interventions. 66,768 people survive gun injuries. 613 people are killed accidently and 2,161 children and teens are murdered. (b.)
  4. On an average day in the United States: 8 children and teens die from gun violence. 268 people are shot in murders, assaults, suicides, accidents or by police intervention and 86 people die from gun violence, 35 of whom are murdered. (b.)
  5. Lost or stolen guns account for a large share of firearms trafficking. Over 150,000 firearms were reported lost or stolen in 2008. Eighty-five percent of these guns were never recovered, and tens of thousands more were likely never even reported. In 2009, of the 238,107 guns that were recovered at crime scenes in the U.S. and submitted for tracing, ATF successfully identified the source states for 145,321 traced guns – or 61% of the attempted traces. 43,254 of these guns, or 30%, crossed state lines before they were recovered in crimes. (a.)
Top 5 facts sources:
  1. Mayors Against Illegal Guns. (2010). "Trace the Guns; The Link Between Gun Laws and Interstate Trafficking" Retrieved Jan 3, 2011.
  2. Grunwald, M. "The Tucson Tragedy: Fire Away" Time Magazine. Jan 24th, 2011. page: 25. Retrieved Jan 3, 2011.
Tags: The United States, Crime & Punishment Statistics, Weapons and Arms Statistics

Sources:  Report: Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Trace the Guns; The Link Between Gun Laws and Interstate Trafficking,

List Notes: Data is for the year 2009. This list measures the number of crime guns sold in each state and recovered in out-of-state crimes.
U.S. States that Exported the Most Guns used to Commit a Crime in Another State

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