RICHMOND, Virginia – The federal government has significantly increased its scrutiny of gun stores that sell firearms used in crimes, with the number of stores under investigation more than doubling in the last four years.
For over two decades, information on which gun stores sell the most crime-related firearms has been kept secret. However, a recent Freedom of Information Act request unveiled a glimpse of this data, revealing that a majority of crime guns are sold by a small fraction of America’s gun shops.
In 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives targeted over 1,300 outlets, including large sellers like Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, and Rural King, along with smaller, lesser-known stores. Interestingly, gun stores connected to recent high-profile mass shootings were also included in this list.
The release of these store names has sparked controversy, with some criticizing it as part of a Biden Administration campaign aimed at gun shops. However, gun violence prevention groups argue that it should motivate shops to take steps to combat illegal firearm trafficking.
The criteria for being included on the list is relatively straightforward: at least 25 guns traced to a crime within a year and purchased within the past three years. This is known as the “time to crime,” which is an indicator of illegal gun trafficking.
The Trump administration increased the threshold for inclusion in 2018, at the urging of the gun lobby. Being listed also means that shops are subject to additional quarterly reports on used firearm purchases to expose the secondary market for guns used in crime.
The full scope of crime gun traces is usually kept confidential, but a program known as Demand 2 offers some insight. It’s worth noting that being on the Demand 2 list does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing, as many factors can be involved in a traced crime gun.
The list includes a majority of the nation’s largest gun sellers, but advocates argue that the weighting of “time to crime” helps to dilute the impact of volume alone. Large retailers like Bass Pro Shops, Turner’s Outdoorsman, and Scheels are heavily represented on the list as well.
According to the ATF’s most recent nationwide gun tracing analysis, pistols, particularly the Glock 9 mm, are the most common type of firearm tied to crime. Glock, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, and Sturm Ruger are the most common manufacturers of pistols traced to crimes.
Overall, the Demand 2 list serves as a tool for regulators to trace more used guns, and the gun industry is also participating in initiatives to prevent straw purchasing and train members in best practices.
Publicizing the Demand 2 list has sparked debates, with some arguing that it can be misleading and not necessarily indicative of a dealer’s performance.
It’s clear that the release of the list has sparked a conversation about the responsibilities of gun shops and how to curb illegal firearm trafficking in the United States.