This State’s Gun Tracing Jumped 172.5% in Just One Year

24/7 Wall St. Insights

The ATF traced 513 guns in Maine in 2021 and 1,398 one year later for a stunning 172.5% increase.
Tracing guns provides insight into where and how guns are being purchased, how weapons are changing hands, and what potential solutions or interventions can address the situation.
Out of all 50 states, Wisconsin is the most adept at figuring out where guns came from that were used to commit crimes.
Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

Currently, any federally licensed firearms dealer who has 25 sold guns in a year that are later traced to the commission of violent crimes must report information on their sales practices to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). However, for some politicians, this is not enough. In June 2024, Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) introduced legislation that would seek to further delineate federally licensed firearms dealers whose guns repeatedly end up in violent situations. If these dealers continue down this path, Representative Raskin’s legislation would deem them not eligible for any federal contracts. This legislation hopes to reduce widespread gun violence and create a safer firearms landscape. (Can you guess which countries have the highest rates of gun violence?)

The ATF traces weapons used in violent crimes to provide better information to law enforcement. By tracing firearms, the ATF can also identify whether the same individuals or groups are responsible for violence and crime in a broader geographical area. Gun tracing requests have steadily increased since 2017, from 338,000 to 460,000 in 2021. The rate of gun tracing varies by state. Hawaii had the lowest national rate of 60%, but they also submitted the least amount of requests. (Check out the states where the most people bought guns in the first half of 2024.)

Using ATF firearm tracing data as a proxy for criminal offenses, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where gun crime is surging. We ranked all states on the one-year change in ATF gun tracings, from smallest to largest. Only eight of 50 states reported a year-over-year decline in federal firearm investigations. Among the remaining 42 states, ATF firearm tracings increased anywhere from 0.7% to 172.5% between 2021 and 2022.

It’s important to note that the states reporting the largest one-year increase in gun tracings do not necessarily have a higher than average concentration of gun crime. Just over half of the 10 highest-ranking states on this list had fewer gun tracings per 100,000 residents in 2022 than the national average of 149 per 100,000. We listed this data under Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings, with a note on where each state ranks comparatively to the other U.S. states.

Why Are We Writing About Gun Tracing?

Gun tracing extends from the weapon recovered to the last place it was purchased. The ability to accomplish this task varies greatly from state to state. Many argue that crime gun tracing is a “critical data source” in the work to solve violent crimes and possibly uncover other crimes, such as trafficking in stolen weapons. Learning the details of state gun tracing statistics will aid in understanding the broader picture of gun ownership, gun use, and firearm regulation.

Here are the national gun tracing statistics by state:

50. Michigan

Guns Traced in 2021: 12,329
Guns Traced in 2022: 10,145
Percent Increase: -17.7% (-2,184)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 101.1 per 100,000 (15th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 122.7 per 100,000 (125th highest)

49. Nevada

Guns Traced in 2021: 6,735
Guns Traced in 2022: 5,959
Percent Increase: -11.5% (-776)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 214.2 per 100,000 (4th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 187.5 per 100,000 (9th highest)

48. Nebraska

Guns Traced in 2021: 2,240
Guns Traced in 2022: 2,141
Percent Increase: -4.4% (-99)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 114.1 per 100,000 (21st lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 108.8 per 100,000 (19th lowest)

47. New Mexico

Guns Traced in 2021: 4,114
Guns Traced in 2022: 3,955
Percent Increase: -3.9% (-159)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 194.4 per 100,000 (6th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 187.1 per 100,000 (10th highest)

46. Ohio

Guns Traced in 2021: 20,826
Guns Traced in 2022: 20,520
Percent Increase: -1.5% (-306)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 176.8 per 100,000 (8th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 184.6 per 100,000 (13th highest)

45. Arkansas

Guns Traced in 2021: 3,541
Guns Traced in 2022: 3,494
Percent Increase: -1.3% (-47)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 117.0 per 100,000 (22nd lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 114.7 per 100,000 (20th lowest)

44. Missouri

Guns Traced in 2021: 10,213
Guns Traced in 2022: 10,159
Percent Increase: -0.5% (-54)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 165.6 per 100,000 (12th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 164.4 per 100,000 (18th highest)

43. Delaware

Guns Traced in 2021: 1,678
Guns Traced in 2022: 1,676
Percent Increase: -0.1% (-2)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 167.2 per 100,000 (10th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 164.6 per 100,000 (17th highest)

42. New Hampshire

Guns Traced in 2021: 705
Guns Traced in 2022: 710
Percent Increase: +0.7% (+5)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 50.7 per 100,000 (7th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 50.9 per 100,000 (3rd lowest)

41. Oregon

Guns Traced in 2021: 5,459
Guns Traced in 2022: 5,586
Percent Increase: +2.3% (+127)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 128.6 per 100,000 (24th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 131.7 per 100,000 (23rd lowest)

40. Illinois

Guns Traced in 2021: 19,188
Guns Traced in 2022: 19,766
Percent Increase: +2.7% (+518)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 151.4 per 100,000 (18th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 156.6 per 100,000 (21st highest)

39. California

Guns Traced in 2021: 54,338
Guns Traced in 2022: 56,262
Percent Increase: +3.5% (+1,924)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 138.5 per 100,000 (22nd highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 144.2 per 100,000 (23rd highest)

38. Kansas

Guns Traced in 2021: 4,303
Guns Traced in 2022: 4,521
Percent Increase: +5.1% (+218)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 146.6 per 100,000 (20th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 153.9 per 100,000 (22nd highest)

37. Florida

Guns Traced in 2021: 34,491
Guns Traced in 2022: 36,335
Percent Increase: +5.3% (+1,844)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 158.4 per 100,000 (15th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 163.3 per 100,000 (20th highest)

36. Oklahoma

Guns Traced in 2021: 4,302
Guns Traced in 2022: 5,657
Percent Increase: +6.7% (+355)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 133.0 per 100,000 (23rd highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 140.7 per 100,000 (24th highest)

35. North Dakota

Guns Traced in 2021: 778
Guns Traced in 2022: 832
Percent Increase: +6.9% (+54)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 100.4 per 100,000 (18th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 106.8 per 100,000 (18th lowest)

34. North Carolina

Guns Traced in 2021: 23,104
Guns Traced in 2022: 25,085
Percent Increase: +8.6% (+1,981)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 219.0 per 100,000 (3rd highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 234.5 per 100,000 (3rd highest)

33. Idaho

Guns Traced in 2021: 1,376
Guns Traced in 2022: 1,495
Percent Increase: +8.6% (+119)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 72.4 per 100,000 (12th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 77.1 per 100,000 (9th lowest)

32. Indiana

Guns Traced in 2021: 10,349
Guns Traced in 2022: 11,320
Percent Increase: +9.4% (+971)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 152.1 per 100,000 (17th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 165.7 per 100,000 (16th highest)

31. Montana

Guns Traced in 2021: 1,188
Guns Traced in 2022: 1,305
Percent Increase: +9.8% (+117)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 107.6 per 100,000 (19th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 116.2 per 100,000 (21st lowest)

30. Kentucky

Guns Traced in 2021: 6,821
Guns Traced in 2022: 7,524
Percent Increase: +10.5% (+712)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 151.1 per 100,000 (19th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 166.7 per 100,000 (14th highest)

29. Tennessee

Guns Traced in 2021: 15,531
Guns Traced in 2022: 17,182
Percent Increase: +10.6% (+1,651)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 222.7 per 100,000 (2nd highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 243.7 per 100,000 (2nd highest)

28. Georgia

Guns Traced in 2021: 20,472
Guns Traced in 2022: 22,656
Percent Increase: +10.7% (+2,184)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 189.6 per 100,000 (7th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 207.6 per 100,000 (5th highest)

27. Washington

Guns Traced in 2021: 5,586
Guns Traced in 2022: 6,191
Percent Increase: +10.8% (+605)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 72.2 per 100,000 (11th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 79.5 per 100,000 (10th lowest)

26. South Dakota

Guns Traced in 2021: 832
Guns Traced in 2022: 929
Percent Increase: +11.7% (+97)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 92.9 per 100,000 (16th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 102.1 per 100,000 (16th lowest)

25. New Jersey

Guns Traced in 2021: 4,685
Guns Traced in 2022: 5,248
Percent Increase: +12.0% (+563)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 56.7 per 100,000 (6th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 56.7 per 100,000 (6th lowest)

24. Colorado

Guns Traced in 2021: 7,051
Guns Traced in 2022: 7,917
Percent Increase: +12.3% (+866)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 121.3 per 100,000 (25th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 135.6 per 100,000 (25th lowest)

23. Mississippi

Guns Traced in 2021: 4,744
Guns Traced in 2022: 5,358
Percent Increase: +12.9% (+614)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 160.8 per 100,000 (13th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 182.2 per 100,000 (11th highest)

22. Maryland

Guns Traced in 2021: 9,857
Guns Traced in 2022: 11,137
Percent Increase: +13.0% (+1,280)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 159.9 per 100,000 (14th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 180.7 per 100,000 (12th highest)

21. South Carolina

Guns Traced in 2021: 10,713
Guns Traced in 2022: 12,106
Percent Increase: +13.0% (+1,393)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 206.4 per 100,000 (5th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 229.2 per 100,000 (4th highest)

20. Wisconsin

Guns Traced in 2021: 7,062
Guns Traced in 2022: 8,007
Percent Increase: +13.4% (+945)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 119.8 per 100,000 (24th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 135.9 per 100,000 (25th highest)

19. Massachusetts

Guns Traced in 2021: 3,222
Guns Traced in 2022: 3,665
Percent Increase: +13.7% (+443)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 46.1 per 100,000 (5th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 52.5 per 100,000 (4th lowest)

18. Utah

Guns Traced in 2021: 3,030
Guns Traced in 2022: 3,453
Percent Increase: +14.0% (+423)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 90.8 per 100,000 (15th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 102.1 per 100,000 (17th lowest)

17. Wyoming

Guns Traced in 2021: 298
Guns Traced in 2022: 340
Percent Increase: +14.1% (+42)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 51.5 per 100,000 (7th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 58.5 per 100,000 (7th lowest)

16. Pennsylvania

Guns Traced in 2021: 15,370
Guns Traced in 2022: 17,543
Percent Increase: +14.1% (+2,173)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 118.6 per 100,000 (23rd lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 135.2 per 100,000 (24th lowest)

15. Minnesota

Guns Traced in 2021: 4,605
Guns Traced in 2022: 5,327
Percent Increase: +15.7% (+722)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 80.7 per 100,000 (14th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 93.2 per 100,000 (12th lowest)

14. Arizona

Guns Traced in 2021: 12,113
Guns Traced in 2022: 14,019
Percent Increase: +15.7% (+1,906)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 166.5 per 100,000 (11th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 190.5 per 100,000 (7th highest)

13. New York

Guns Traced in 2021: 10,310
Guns Traced in 2022: 11,987
Percent Increase: +16.3% (+1,677)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 52.0 per 100,000 (9th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 60.9 per 100,000 (8th lowest)

12. Louisiana

Guns Traced in 2021: 13,823
Guns Traced in 2022: 16,235
Percent Increase: +17.4% (+2,412)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 298.9 per 100,000 (1st highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 353.7 per 100,000 (1st highest)

11. Connecticut

Guns Traced in 2021: 1,617
Guns Traced in 2022: 1,917
Percent Increase: +18.6% (+300)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 44.9 per 100,000 (4th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 52.9 per 100,000 (5th lowest)

10. Virginia

Guns Traced in 2021: 12,184
Guns Traced in 2022: 14,465
Percent Increase: +18.7% (+2,281)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 141.0 per 100,000 (21st highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 166.6 per 100,000 (15th highest)

9. Alabama

Guns Traced in 2021: 8,847
Guns Traced in 2022: 10,519
Percent Increase: +18.9% (+1,672)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 175.5 per 100,000 (9th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 207.3 per 100,000 (6th highest)

8. Vermont

Guns Traced in 2021: 243
Guns Traced in 2022: 299
Percent Increase: +23.0% (+56)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 37.6 per 100,000 (3rd lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 46.2 per 100,000 (2nd lowest)

7. Texas

Guns Traced in 2021: 45,618
Guns Traced in 2022: 56,466
Percent Increase: +23.8% (+10,848)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 154.5 per 100,000 (16th highest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 188.0 per 100,000 (8th highest)

6. West Virginia

Guns Traced in 2021: 1,698
Guns Traced in 2022: 2,104
Percent Increase: +23.9% (+406)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 95.2 per 100,000 (17th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 118.5 per 100,000 (22nd lowest)

5. Iowa

Guns Traced in 2021: 2,576
Guns Traced in 2022: 3,196
Percent Increase: +24.1% (+620)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 80.7 per 100,000 (13th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 99.9 per 100,000 (13th lowest)

4. Alaska

Guns Traced in 2021: 797
Guns Traced in 2022: 1,200
Percent Increase: +50.6% (+403)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 108.8 per 100,000 (20th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 163.6 per 100,000 (19th highest)

3. Rhode Island

Guns Traced in 2021: 666
Guns Traced in 2022: 1,017
Percent Increase: +52.7% (+351)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 60.8 per 100,000 (10th lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 93.0 per 100,000 (11th lowest)

2. Hawaii

Guns Traced in 2021: 115
Guns Traced in 2022: 287
Percent Increase: +149.6% (+172)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 8.0 per 100,000 (lowest in all 50 states)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 19.9 per 100,000 (lowest in all 50 states)

1. Maine

Guns Traced in 2021: 513
Guns Traced in 2022: 1,398
Percent Increase: +172.5% (+885)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2021: 37.4 per 100,000 people (2nd lowest)
Population-Adjusted ATF Firearm Tracings in 2022: 100.9 per 100,000 (14th lowest)

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