A shooting in Boston, a carjacking in Washington, D.C., and a robbery in New York—these incidents share a troubling commonality. Court documents obtained by Everytown for Gun Safety reveal that the firearms used in these crimes originated from southern states, where gun laws are generally less restrictive.
The report sheds light on the alarming method of illegal gun trafficking through straw purchases, where individuals buy guns legally and sell them unlawfully to those prohibited from ownership. In a recent analysis, over 250 illicitly trafficked firearms were traced back to nearly two dozen Academy Sports + Outdoors stores, known for their firearm sales.
Academy Sports has not faced legal repercussions, as the trafficked guns represent only a fraction of its total sales. Nonetheless, advocates emphasize that the cases pinpoint critical red flags that licensed gun sellers either overlook or fail to act upon.
Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) suggest that since 2017, tens of thousands of firearms have been trafficked across state lines, with routes primarily stemming from Southern states towards stricter urban locales. Less than 30% of these trafficked guns have been recovered outside the states where they were purchased.
Everytown’s findings indicate four main methods of trafficking: through straw purchasing, unauthorized resale, theft from licensed sellers, and stealing from personal properties. Alarmingly, three methods involve licensed firearm sellers, underscoring their crucial role in combatting illegal trade.
One case involved a man who acquired over 100 firearms from Academy Sports, which were later linked to offenses in New York. Patterns emerged indicating red flags such as multiple purchases of firearms, cash payments, or using someone else's credit structure, alarm bells that sellers should heed.
Industry voices advocate for a shift towards a more collaborative stance between gun sellers and federal authorities to effectively monitor and curb illegal sales. It's a call for gun stores to adopt a proactive approach in identifying suspicious purchasing behavior to prevent firearms from reaching criminal hands.
