A report released by the gun control advocacy group Everytown For Gun Safety on Wednesday highlights key trends in firearms recovered at crime scenes across the United States. The analysis, which covers nearly 350,000 guns used in crimes in over 50 U.S. cities from 2020 to 2024, examined the origins of these weapons and how their presence has changed over time. The report updates similar data previously released by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in 2023.
David Pucino, legal director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, stated that the information contained within the report is intended to inform the public, policymakers, and communities impacted by gun violence.
Rise in 3D-Printed Firearms
The Everytown report identified a significant increase in the recovery of 3D-printed firearms at crime scenes. These weapons, which can be manufactured at home, typically lack serial numbers, making them difficult to trace.
- In a dataset of 20 cities with five years of available data, 32 3D-printed firearms were recovered in 2020.
- By 2024, this number increased to 325, representing a 1,000% rise.
While 3D-printed guns still constitute a small portion of overall firearms recovered at crime scenes, their rate of increase is noted. Pucino observed that the growth in the use of 3D-printed guns has been more rapid in jurisdictions with stricter gun laws. For example, New York City, a jurisdiction with strict gun laws, saw recoveries of 3D-printed guns increase from 33 in 2023 to 123 in 2024.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg previously urged companies manufacturing 3D printers to address the circulation of these firearms. Advocates for gun control have proposed strategies to regulate the production of these firearms, including the development of algorithms in 3D printers to prevent the printing of firearms and states implementing laws against publishing blueprints for 3D-printed guns. Pucino emphasized the need to explore all such approaches given the evolving nature of this issue.
Major Manufacturers and Crime Gun Recoveries
The report also examined the manufacturers of firearms recovered at crime scenes. Despite there being over 20,000 firearm manufacturers in the U.S., four companies—Glock, Taurus, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger—were associated with over half of the firearms recovered nationally last year. This trend aligns with these companies' substantial market share. For instance, Glock, which produces approximately a quarter of pistols annually, accounts for nearly a quarter of the crime guns in Everytown's dataset.
Nick Suplina, senior vice president of law and policy at Everytown, stated that manufacturers bear responsibility for their products being used in crimes. Glock, Taurus, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger did not provide comments when contacted by NPR.
A 2005 federal law grants firearm manufacturers broad immunity from civil liability when their guns are used in crimes. However, exceptions exist for cases involving knowing violations of marketing or sales laws. Some states have also enacted legislation permitting lawsuits against gun manufacturers if they do not implement safeguards to prevent their products from being misused.
Transition from Legal Purchase to Criminal Use
Everytown's analysis of a broader ATF dataset from 2019 to 2023 indicated that half of the nearly 2 million guns traced by the agency were legally purchased but recovered at a crime scene within three years. A "time to crime" period under three years is often considered an indicator of potential gun trafficking for criminal activity.
Pam Hicks, who served as chief counsel at the ATF until February, highlighted that this data underscores the importance of thorough federal inspections of gun dealers to ensure adherence to proper sales protocols. The ATF is projected to experience budget cuts in the coming year, which may affect its inspection capabilities. Hicks noted that a primary law enforcement function of the ATF involves identifying and prosecuting crimes related to the movement of firearms from legal commerce to illegal use.
Bill Brooks, a retired police chief and chair of the firearms committee at the International Association of Chiefs of Police, mentioned theft as another pathway for legally purchased guns to be used in crimes. Brooks suggested that responsible storage by gun owners, such as keeping firearms locked up, could potentially reduce instances of suicides, accidental discharges, and certain violent crimes.