Methodology

To identify the states where gun crime is surging, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed gun tracing data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. States are ranked by the increase in the number of firearms traced by the ATF from 2020 to 2021. In each state on this list, gun tracings increased by over 10% year over year.

Guns that are traced by the ATF are typically those found at crime scenes and either have been used, or are suspected to have been used, to commit a crime. Though it is important to note that not all firearms used in a crime are traced. Data on the most commonly traced firearm calibers and chambers are also from the ATF. 

We also reviewed data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a proxy for gun sales, to reflect annual firearm sales and change in annual sales.