The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) is currently helping the police trace guns used in the recent Miami Gardens shooting. The ATF Tracing Center (NTC) is the only agency authorized to trace U.S. and foreign-manufactured weapons. The mission for this center is to “conduct firearms tracing to provide investigative leads for federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies.” This tracing aids in linking a suspect to a gun in a criminal investigation. The ability to trace for these purposes can also provide a broader view of patterns in the sources and kinds of crime committed. They can help answer questions like “Was this gun used in a crime bought legally?” or “Who bought it, and where was it bought?”
Gun tracing requests have steadily increased since 2017, from 338,000 to 460,000 in 2021. The rate of gun tracing varies by state. Wisconsin was able to trace the highest amount of crime guns back to their origin of purchase, reaching 85%. Hawaii had the lowest national rate of 60%, but they also submitted the least amount of requests.
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 the 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 is 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.
Why Are We Writing About Gun Tracing?
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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 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 regulation of firearms.
Here are the national gun tracing statistics by state.
50. Michigan
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In Michigan, the ATF has traced 12,329 firearms in 2021 and 10,145 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was -17.7% or -2,184. Approximately 101.1 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (the 15th lowest of 50 states) in 2022. In 2021, that number was 122.7 per 100,000 people (25th highest of the 50 states).
49. Nevada
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The ATF traced 6,735 firearms in 2021 and 5,959 in 2022. For Nevada, this is a change of -11.5% (-776). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 214.2 per 100,000 people (4th highest of the 50 states) and 187.5 per 100,000 (9th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was +1.1% (+33,781).
48. Nebraska
Nebraska had 2,240 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 2,141 in 2022. This was a change of -4.4% (-99). Regarding population, 114.1 per 100,000 people were traced (21st lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 108.8 per 100,000 in 2022 (19th lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.2% (+4,231).
47. New Mexico
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In New Mexico, the ATF has traced 4,114 firearms in 2021 and 3,955 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was -3.9% or -159. Approximately 194.4 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (6th highest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 187.1 per 100,000 people (10th highest of the 50 states), a change of -0.1% (-2,533).
46. Ohio
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The ATF traced 20,826 firearms in 2021 and 20,520 in 2022. For Ohio, this is a change of -1.5% (-306). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 176.8 per 100,000 people (8th highest of the 50 states) and 174.6 per 100,000 (13th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was -0.2% (-23,959).
45. Arkansas
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Arkansas had 3,541 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 3,494 in 2022. This was a change of -1.3% (-47). Regarding population, 117.0 per 100,000 people were traced (22nd lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 114.7 per 100,000 in 2022 (20th lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.7% (+19,746).
44. Missouri
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In Missouri, the ATF has traced 10,213 firearms in 2021 and 10,159 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was -0.5% or -54. Approximately 165.6 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (12th highest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 164.4 per 100,000 people (18th highest of the 50 states), a change of +0.2% (+9,770).
43. Delaware
The ATF traced 1,678 firearms in 2021 and 1,676 in 2022. This is a change of -0.1% (-2) for Delaware. The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 167.2 per 100,000 people (10th highest of the 50 states) and 164.6 per 100,000 (17th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was +1.5% (+15,012).
42. New Hampshire
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New Hampshire had 705 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 710 in 2022. This was a change of +0.7% (+5). Regarding population, 50.8 per 100,000 people were traced (7th lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 50.9 per 100,000 in 2022 (3rd lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.5% (+6,239).
41. Oregon
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In Oregon, the ATF has traced 5,459 firearms in 2021 and 5,586 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +2.3% or +127. Approximately 128.6 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (24th highest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 131.7 per 100,000 people (23rd lowest of the 50 states), a change of -0.1% (-6,018).
40. Illinois
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The ATF traced 19.188 firearms in 2021 and 19.766 in 2022. For Illinois, this is a change of +2.7% (+518). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 151.4 per 100,000 people (18th highest of the 50 states) and 156.6 per 100,000 (21st highest) in 2022. This change over a year was -0.7% (-89,437).
39. California
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California had 54,338 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 56,262 in 2022. This was a change of +3.5% (+1,924). Regarding population, 138.5 per 100,000 people were traced (22nd highest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 144.2 per 100,000 in 2022 (23rd highest of 50 states). These numbers show a decrease of -0.5% (-208,494).
38. Kansas
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In Kansas, the ATF has traced 4,303 firearms in 2021 and 4,521 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +5.1% or +218. Approximately 146.6 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (20th highest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 153.9 per 100,000 people (22nd highest of the 50 states), a change of +0.1% (+2,568).
37. Florida
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The ATF traced 34,491 firearms in 2021 and 36,335 in 2022. For Florida, this is a change of +5.3% (+1,844). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 158.4 per 100,000 people (15th highest of the 50 states) and 163.3 per 100,000 (20th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was +2.1% (+463,695).
36. Oklahoma
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Oklahoma had 5,302 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 5,657 in 2022. This was a change of +6.7% (+355). Regarding population, 133.0 per 100,000 people were traced (23rd highest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 140.7 per 100,000 in 2022 (24th highest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.8% (+33,161).
35. North Dakota
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In North Dakota, the ATF has traced 778 firearms in 2021 and 832 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +6.9% or +54. Approximately 100.4 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (18th lowest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 106.8 per 100,000 people (18th lowest of the 50 states), a change of +0.6% (+4,313).
34. North Carolina
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The ATF traced 23,104 firearms in 2021 and 25,085 in 2022. For North Carolina, this is a change of +8.6% (+1,981). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 219.0 per 100,000 people (3rd highest of the 50 states) and 234.5 per 100,000 (3rd highest) in 2022. This change over a year was +1.4% (+147,811).
33. Idaho
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Idaho had 1,376 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 1,495 in 2022. This was a change of +8.6% (+119). Regarding population, 72.4 per 100,000 people were traced (12th lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 77.1 per 100,000 in 2022 (9th lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +2.0% (+38,110).
32. Indiana
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In Indiana, the ATF has traced 10,349 firearms in 2021 and 11,320 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +9.4% or +971. Approximately 152.1 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (17th highest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 165.7 per 100,000 people (16th highest of the 50 states), a change of +0.4% (+27,052).
31. Montana
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The ATF traced 1,188 firearms in 2021 and 1,305 in 2022. For Montana, this is a change of +9.8% (+117). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 107.6 per 100,000 people (19th lowest of the 50 states) and 116.2 per 100,000 (21st lowest) in 2022. This change over a year was +1.7% (+18,596).
30. Kentucky
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Kentucky had 6,821 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 7,524 in 2022. This was a change of +10.5% (+712). Regarding population, 151.1 per 100,000 people were traced (19th highest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 166.7 per 100,000 in 2022 (14th highest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.1% (+2,916).
29. Tennessee
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In Tennessee, the ATF has traced 15,531 firearms in 2021 and 17,182 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +10.6% or +1,651. Approximately 222.7 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (2nd highest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 243.7 per 100,000 people (2nd highest of the 50 states), a change of +1.1% (-+76,121).
28. Georgia
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The ATF traced 20,472 firearms in 2021 and 22,656 in 2022. For Georgia, this is a change of +10.7% (+2,184). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 189.6 per 100,000 people (7th highest of the 50 states) and 207.6 per 100,000 (5th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was +1.1% (+113,310).
27. Washington
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Washington had 5,586 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 6,191 in 2022. This was a change of +10.8% (+605). Regarding population, 72.2 per 100,000 people were traced (11th lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 79.5 per 100,000 in 2022 (10th lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.6% (+47,094).
26. South Dakota
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In South Dakota, the ATF has traced 832 firearms in 2021 and 929 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +11.7% or +97. Approximately 92.9 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (16th lowest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 102.1 per 100,000 people (16th lowest of the 50 states), a change of +1.6% (+14,448).
25. New Jersey
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The ATF traced 4,685 firearms in 2021 and 5,248 in 2022. For New Jersey, this is a change of +12.0% (+563). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 56.7 per 100,000 people (6th lowest of the 50 states) and 56.7 per 100,000 (6th lowest) in 2022. This change over a year was -0.1% (-5,431).
24. Colorado
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Colorado had 7,051 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 7,917 in 2022. This was a change of +12.3% (+866). Regarding population, 121.3 per 100,000 people were traced (25st lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 135.6 per 100,000 in 2022 (25th lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.5% (+27,857).
23. Mississippi
In Mississippi, the ATF has traced 4,744 firearms in 2021 and 5,358 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +12.9% or +614. Approximately 160.8 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (13th highest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 182.2 per 100,000 people (11th highest of the 50 states), a change of -0.3% (-9,908).
22. Maryland
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The ATF traced 9,857 firearms in 2021 and 11,137 in 2022. For Nevada, this is a change of +13.0% (+1,280). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 159.9 per 100,000 people (14th highest of the 50 states) and 180.7 per 100,000 (12th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was -0.1% (-469).
21. South Carolina
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South Carolina had 10,713 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 12,106 in 2022, a change of +13.0% (+1,393). Regarding population, 206.4 per 100,000 people were traced (5th highest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 229.2 per 100,000 in 2022 (4th highest in 50 states), an increase of +1.8% (+91,929).
20. Wisconsin
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In Wisconsin, the ATF has traced 7,062 firearms in 2021 and 8,007 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +13.4% or +945. Approximately 119.8 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (the 24th lowest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 135.9 per 100,000 people (25th highest of the 50 states), a change of -0.1% (-3,369).
19. Massachusetts
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The ATF traced 3,222 firearms in 2021 and 3,665 in 2022. For Massachusetts, this change is -13.7% (+443). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 46.1 per 100,000 people (5th lowest of the 50 states) and 52.5 per 100,000 (4th lowest) in 2022.
18. Utah
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Utah had 3,030 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 3,453 in 2022. This was a change of +14.0% (+423). Regarding population, 90.8 per 100,000 people were traced (15th lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 102.1 per 100,000 in 2022 (17th lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +1.3% (+42,825).
17. Wyoming
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In Wyoming, the ATF has traced 298 firearms in 2021 and 340 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +14.1% or +42. Approximately 51.5 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (7th lowest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 58.5 per 100,000 people (7th lowest of the 50 states), a change of +0.5% (+2,578).
16. Pennsylvania
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The ATF traced 15,370 firearms in 2021 and 17,543 in 2022. For Pennsylvania, this is a change of +14.1% (+2,173). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 118.6 per 100,000 people (23rd lowest of the 50 states) and 135.2 per 100,000 (24th lowest) in 2022. This change over a year was +0.1% (+7,952).
15. Minnesota
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Minnesota had 4,605 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 5,327 in 2022. This was a change of +15.7% (+722). Regarding population, 80.7 per 100,000 people were traced (14th lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 93.2 per 100,000 in 2022 (12th lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.2% (+9,794).
14. Arizona
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In Arizona, the ATF has traced 12,113 firearms in 2021 and 14,019 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +15.7% or +1,906. Approximately 166.5 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (11th highest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 190.5 per 100,000 people (7th highest of the 50 states), a change of +1.1% (+82,881).
13. New York
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The ATF traced 10,310 firearms in 2021 and 11,987 in 2022. For New York, this is a change of +16.3% (+1,677). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 were 52.0 per 100,000 people (9th lowest of the 50 states) and 60.9 per 100,000 (8th lowest) in 2022. This change over a year was -0.8% (-158,762).
12. Louisiana
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Louisiana had 13,823 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 16,235 in 2022. This was a change of +17.4% (+2,412). Regarding population, 298.9 per 100,000 people were traced (the highest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 353.7 per 100,000 in 2022 (the highest in the 50 states). These numbers show a decrease of -0.7% (-33,806).
11. Connecticut
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In Connecticut, the ATF has traced 1,617 firearms in 2021 and 1,917 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +18.6 % or +300. Approximately 44.9 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (4th lowest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 52.9 per 100,000 people (5th lowest of the 50 states), a change of +0.6% (+20,608).
10. Virginia
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The ATF traced 12,184 firearms in 2021 and 14,465 in 2022. For Virginia, this is a change of +18.7% (+2,281). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 141.0 per 100,000 people (21st highest of the 50 states) and 166.6 per 100,000 (15th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was +0.5% (+41,345).
9. Alabama
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Alabama had 8,847 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 10,519 in 2022. This was a change of +18.9% (+1,672). Regarding population, 175.5 per 100,000 people were traced (9th highest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 207.3 per 100,000 in 2022 (6th highest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.7% (+34,419).
8. Vermont
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In Vermont, the ATF has traced 243 firearms in 2021 and 299 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +23.0% or +56. Approximately 37.6 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (3rd lowest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 46.2 per 100,000 people (2nd lowest of the 50 states), a change of +0.2% (+1,494).
7. Texas
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The ATF traced 45,618 firearms in 2021 and 56,466 in 2022. For Virginia, this is a change of +23.8% (+10,848). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 154.5 per 100,000 people (16th highest of the 50 states) and 188.0 per 100,000 (8th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was +1.7% (+501,631).
6. West Virginia
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West Virginia had 1,698 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 2,104 in 2022. This was a change of +23.9% (+406). Regarding population, 95.2 per 100,000 people were traced (17th lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 118.5 per 100,000 in 2022 (22nd lowest of 50 states). These numbers show an increase of +0.2% (+7,803).
5. Iowa
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In Iowa, the ATF has traced 2,576 firearms in 2021 and 3,196 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +24.1% or +620. Approximately 80.7 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (13th lowest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 99.9 per 100,000 people (13th lowest of the 50 states), a change of +0.2% (+7,438).
4. Alaska
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The ATF traced 797 firearms in 2021 and 1,200 in 2022. For Virginia, this is a change of +50.6% (+403). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 108.8 per 100,000 people (20th lowest of the 50 states) and 163.6 per 100,000 (19th highest) in 2022. This change over a year was +50.6% (+403).
3. Rhode Island
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Rhode Island had 666 firearms traced to it in 2021 and 1,017 in 2022. This was a change of +52.7% (+351). Regarding population, 60.8 per 100,000 people were traced (10th lowest in the 50 states) in 2021 and 93.0 per 100,000 in 2022 (11th lowest of 50 states). These numbers show a decrease of -0.2% (-1,876).
2. Hawaii
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In Hawaii, the ATF has traced 115 firearms in 2021 and 287 in 2022. The change over one year (2021-2022) was +149.6% or +172. Approximately 8.0 per 100,000 people had firearms traced to them (the lowest of 50 states) in 2021. In 2022, that number was 19.9 per 100,000 people (the lowest of the 50 states), a change of -0.1% (-1,357).
1. Maine
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The ATF traced 513 firearms in 2021 and 1,398 in 2022. For Maine, this is a change of +172.5% (+885). The population-adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021 was 37.4 per 100,000 people (2nd lowest of the 50 states) and 100.9 per 100,000 (14th lowest of the 50 states) in 2022. This change over a year was +1.0% (+13,093).
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