Report Lost and Stolen Guns
Report Lost and Stolen Guns
What is the problem?
Requiring that lost and stolen guns be reported to law enforcement deters illegal gun trafficking. The reporting of these guns allows the police to respond more quickly to gun thefts and helps them identify tracking patterns.
Gun thefts occur in staggering numbers and often divert guns into an underground market where people with dangerous histories are able to easily obtain firearms. Passing laws requiring gun owners to report guns that have been lost or stolen to law enforcement can help prevent illegal gun trafficking.
Myth & Fact
Myth
Lost and stolen reporting laws only re-victimize and penalize gun owners when the focus should be on criminals.
Fact
Most lost and stolen reporting laws only have consequences to gun owners who fail to alert law enforcement when their guns are lost or stolen. Lost and stolen reporting laws are associated with a 30% lower risk that guns would be purchased in that state and recovered after a crime in another state.
Featured Resources

Gun Law Navigator
The Gun Law Navigator is the largest historical database of modern U.S. gun laws.

Stolen Guns Pose a Tremendous Risk to Public Safety
Thousands of guns are stolen every year and often wind up at crime scenes. Stolen guns pose a tremendous risk to public safety.