By Steve Neavling
Unlicensed firearms dealers were responsible for more than 68,000 illegally trafficked firearms in the U.S. over the span of five years, according to new data released by ATF.
In total, 54% of the illegally trafficked firearms in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021 came through unlicensed dealers, who aren’t required to perform background checks, the Associated Press reports.
The guns represent 368 shooting cases.
Since unlicensed dealers aren’t required to keep records of their sales, federal agents have a tougher time investigating.
Attorney General Merrick Garland ordered the report, which is the first of its kind in more than 20 years.
The report analyzed more than 9,700 ATF firearm tracking investigations during the five-year period.
