NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FEDERAL LAWYERS
ATF’s Efforts to Combat Gun Violence and Armed Criminals
|Last Updated on: 21st September 2023, 09:59 pm
The Ongoing Battle Against Gun Violence
Gun violence has become an epidemic in America. Every year, nearly 40,000 people die and 100,000 more are injured by firearms. It’s a huge problem, and it requires a collaborative effort between government, law enforcement, and regular citizens to make progress.In this fight, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) plays a really important role as the main federal agency enforcing our gun laws. I wanted to give an overview of how the ATF is working to get illegal guns off the streets and prosecute violent criminals who misuse them. There’s no single solution, but understanding what efforts are already underway can help point us in the right direction.
How the ATF Regulates Legal Gun Sales
The ATF is responsible for enforcing federal gun laws like the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the National Firearms Act. These laws set rules around manufacturing, selling, transporting, and possessing guns and ammo.To enforce these laws, the ATF does things like:
- Issuing federal firearms licenses to dealers and manufacturers
- Inspecting gun dealers to make sure they follow the rules
- Maintaining databases to trace guns used in crimes back to their original sellers
- Revoking licenses and recommending prosecution when sellers break the law
Between 2015-2019 alone, the ATF conducted over 12,500 compliance inspections and recommended prosecution in more than 2,600 cases. Strict oversight of the legal gun market provides a baseline to work from.
Targeting Illegal Gun Trafficking
A major source of guns used in crime is through illegal trafficking channels. To disrupt these networks, the ATF uses:
- Crime Gun Intelligence Centers: Forensic science to identify shooters and their connections
- ATF Crime Gun Enforcement Teams: Proactively go after violent criminals with illegal guns
- Embedded Agents: Work with local homicide units to solve gun murders
In 2021, these efforts led to over 5,500 federal arrests and 3,000 prosecutions of prohibited gun owners like felons and domestic abusers. Stopping the flow of illegal guns is key.
Partnering with Local Police
With only around 5,000 ATF agents nationwide, teaming up with local law enforcement is crucial. The ATF supports these partnerships through:
- Project Safe Neighborhood Grants: Fund local anti-violence programs
- Task Force Officers: Embed state/local police into ATF field offices
- NIBIN: Connects local ballistics evidence to aid prosecutions
- Training Programs: Help locals trace guns and build federal cases
By joining forces, the impact is multiplied.
Leading Violent Crime Task Forces
In cities facing surges in violence, the ATF has spearheaded task forces bringing together local, state, and federal law enforcement. For example, a 3-month effort in New Orleans led to 165 guns seized, 29 prosecutions, and a 15% drop in violent crime in targeted areas. These task forces leverage the unique tools and prosecution power of the feds to support communities overwhelmed by violent crime waves. But long-term solutions require addressing root causes as well.
Pushing for Better Gun Laws
While the ATF works hard to enforce current laws, the agency has long said we need legislative action to close loopholes. Some proposals they support include:
- Requiring background checks for all gun sales, including private sales
- Improving background check databases by incentivizing state reporting
- Establishing federal laws against gun trafficking and straw purchases
- Banning high-capacity magazines and assault weapons
- Increasing penalties for crimes involving a gun
Comprehensive new legislation around background checks, trafficking, and penalties would help keep guns from ending up in the wrong hands.
Moving Forward as a Country
Stemming the epidemic of gun violence requires all of us – government, law enforcement, and regular citizens – to make it a priority. The ATF plays an important role through enforcement and partnerships. But we need public involvement and political action too. This is not an easy problem to solve, but by working together we can build a future with fewer lives lost to gun violence.