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

USMS-Omaha-42 (CC BY 2.0) by Office of Public Affairs

• 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

Delaware Police Ford Expeditio... (CC BY 2.0) by Raymond Wambsgans

• 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

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

Philadelphia Police Department (CC BY 2.0) by James Case

• 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)