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Firearm sales in the U.S. have reached record levels in recent years, and this increase in the availability of firearms may be contributing to a rise in gun-related crime.
Firearms recovered at crime scenes or seized from suspects are frequently reported to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for tracing purposes. The ATF plays a crucial role in criminal investigations by leveraging serial numbers and other identifying marks to trace the origins of firearms, including when and where they were originally purchased. It is noteworthy that over the past 12 years, federal resources have increasingly been allocated to addressing firearm-related offenses.
The ATF witnessed a staggering 174% increase in the number of guns traced between 2010 and 2022, with the figures skyrocketing from 145,600 to 399,400. This surge ranged from 3% to 18% annually. It is worth noting that firearms are the primary weapon used in the majority of homicides in the United States. Additionally, the national homicide rate experienced a significant surge of over 50% during this same time period.
The ATF traces guns that have been used in crimes, but it’s important to note that not all firearms traced by the agency were actually used in criminal activities. Additionally, there are many illegal guns that are never traced. However, the data collected from these traces provides valuable information on gun violence trends and geographical patterns in the United States.
Gun tracings in New York state have seen a significant increase, mirroring the national trend. In 2022, the ATF traced 8,158 seized firearms, compared to 4,691 in 2010. However, when taking population into account, gun crime seems to be less prevalent in New York compared to the rest of the United States. Over the past 13 years, the number of firearm tracings per 100,000 people in the state has consistently been lower than the national rate.
According to the latest available data in 2022, New York has a gun-tracing rate of 41.5 seized firearms per 100,000 people, which is the seventh lowest among states. Remarkably, New York has consistently maintained its position in the top 10 states with the lowest gun-tracing rates since 2012.
In 2010, the ATF traced a total of 4,691 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2010: 24.2 per 100,000 people (14th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2010: 47.1 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2010: 4.5 per 100,000 people (23rd highest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2010: 4.8 per 100,000 people
In 2011, the ATF traced a total of 4,972 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2011: 25.5 per 100,000 people (14th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2011: 47.9 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2011: 3.9 per 100,000 people (24th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2011: 4.7 per 100,000 people
In 2012, the ATF traced a total of 4,850 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2012: 24.8 per 100,000 people (10th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2012: 49.8 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2012: 3.5 per 100,000 people (21st lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2012: 4.7 per 100,000 people
In 2013, the ATF traced a total of 4,784 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2013: 24.3 per 100,000 people (10th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2013: 52.6 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2013: 3.3 per 100,000 people (20th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2013: 4.5 per 100,000 people
In 2014, the ATF traced a total of 4,585 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2014: 23.2 per 100,000 people (9th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2014: 53.4 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2014: 3.1 per 100,000 people (20th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2014: 4.4 per 100,000 people
In 2015, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) traced a total of 4,863 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2015: 24.6 per 100,000 people (7th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2015: 59.3 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2015: 3.1 per 100,000 people (15th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2015: 4.9 per 100,000 people
In 2016, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) traced a total of 5,378 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2016: 27.2 per 100,000 people (8th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2016: 65.4 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2016: 3.2 per 100,000 people (16th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2016: 5.4 per 100,000 people
In 2017, the ATF traced a total of 5,565 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2017: 28.0 per 100,000 people (7th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2017: 73.4 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2017: 2.8 per 100,000 people (14th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2017: 5.3 per 100,000 people
In 2018, the ATF traced a total of 5,085 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2018: 26.0 per 100,000 people (5th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2018: 77.9 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2018: 2.9 per 100,000 people (17th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2018: 5.0 per 100,000 people
In 2019, the ATF conducted a trace on a total of 4,974 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2019: 25.6 per 100,000 people (6th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2019: 82.0 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2019: 2.9 per 100,000 people (16th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2019: 5.1 per 100,000 people
In 2020, the ATF was able to trace a total of 4,897 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2020: 25.1 per 100,000 people (4th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2020: 93.9 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2020: 4.2 per 100,000 people (18th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2020: 6.5 per 100,000 people
In 2021, the ATF traced a total of 6,896 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2021: 34.8 per 100,000 people (7th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2021: 108.9 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2021: 3.4 per 100,000 people
- U.S. homicide rate, 2021: 7.7 per 100,000 people
In 2022, the ATF traced a total of 8,158 firearms.
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- Firearms traced by the ATF in New York, 2022: 41.5 per 100,000 people (7th lowest)
- Firearms traced by the ATF nationwide, 2022: 119.8 per 100,000 people
- New York homicide rate, 2022: 4.4 per 100,000 people (13th lowest)
- U.S. homicide rate, 2022: 7.3 per 100,000 people
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