Which states require crime guns to be traced?
14 states have adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
California has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Colorado has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Connecticut has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Delaware has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Florida has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Hawaii has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Idaho has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Illinois has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Indiana has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Iowa has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Maine has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Maryland has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Massachusetts has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Michigan has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Minnesota has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Missouri has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Montana has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Nebraska has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Nevada has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
New Hampshire has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
New Jersey has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
New Mexico has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
New York has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
North Carolina has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Ohio has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Oregon has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Pennsylvania has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Rhode Island has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
South Dakota has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Tennessee has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Texas has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Utah has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Vermont has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Virginia has adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Washington has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
West Virginia has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Wisconsin has not adopted this policy
Crime Gun Tracing
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
What It Does
When guns are recovered at crime scenes, officials can trace them back through the chain of custody using the federal system. But a lack of consistent requirements across the country undermines this critical tool to help stop gun trafficking. These states require law enforcement to trace every crime gun they recover; several states also require that ballistics evidence be entered into a separate federal database. A full discussion on Crime Gun Tracing and Gun Trafficking is here.
The Impact
Between 2017 and 2021, the United States recovered over 1.4 million crime guns—with nearly 400,000 of those guns having crossed state lines after they were purchased.
Crime Gun Tracing
Show Citations and Footnotes
Source: Cal. Penal Code §§ 11108.3, 11108.10; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-36n; 2015 DE HB 217; 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/24-8; Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 5-146(c); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131Q; Minn. Stat. § 626.5536; N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 52:17B-9.18, 52:17B-5.3(c); N.Y. Exec. Law § 230; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-902; Or. Executive Order No 16-12, signed July 15, 2016; 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6127; R.I. Gen Laws § 12-1-10.2; Va. Code Ann. § 52-25.1. 1.4 million/400,000: Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, “Five Things to Know About Crime Guns, Gun Trafficking, and Background Checks,” accessed January 4, 2023, https://everytownresearch.org/report/five-things-to-know-about-crime-guns/.