A Report by:

 The Department of the Treasury

 and

 The Department of Justice

Gun Crime

in the Age Group

18-20

June 1999
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 1

Gun Crime in the Age Group 18 to 20

In 1996, 34,040 people in the United States were killed with guns. Of those deaths, 18,166 were

suicides, 14,037 were homicides, 1,134 were unintentional shootings, and 413 deaths were of

unknown intent. (National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.) This report focuses primarily on firearms homicides and

other gun crime in the age group 18 to 20.

Current Law on Firearms Possession by Young People

Current federal minimum age regulations relating to firearms vary by type of gun and means of

access. The Gun Control Act of 1968 made it unlawful for federal firearms dealers to sell handguns to persons under 21. The Youth Handgun Safety Act of 1994 generally prohibited transfers

of handguns to and possession of handguns by anyone under 18. Exceptions include official

military use, and the following activities with the written consent of the parent or guardian:

employment, ranching, farming, target practice, hunting and handgun safety instruction. Persons

between the ages of 18 and 21 may still acquire handguns from non-licensed sellers.

There is no federal age restriction on possession of long guns (including rifles and shotguns).

While licensed dealers may only sell rifles and shotguns to persons aged 18 and older, there is no

age restriction on the transfer of shotguns and rifles by non-licensed sellers.

The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 banned the possession of semiautomatic assault weapons manufactured after passage of the law. Under the law, assault weapons are

defined either by specific make and model or by specific features. Assault weapons can be pistols,

rifles, or shotguns. A person of any age may acquire an assault rifle or assault shotgun manufactured before 1994 from a non-licensed seller, and as of age 18, a person may buy assault rifles and

assault shotguns manufactured before 1994 from licensed dealers. Pistols classified as semiautomatic assault weapons that are grandfathered are subject to the same restrictions as other handguns. There are no age restrictions on transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices (more than 10 rounds); thus a person of any age may purchase such devices manufactured before 1994.

Age Restrictions in The Youth Gun Crime Enforcement Act of 1999

The Youth Gun Crime Enforcement Act of 1999 would raise the minimum age for possession of a

handgun from 18 to 21 and bar all handgun transfers to anyone in that age group, with exceptions

for employment, hunting, farming, target practice, and for safety instruction. The legislation

would also raise the minimum age to possess an assault rifle from 18 to 21, and bar assault rifle

transfers by anyone to anyone in that age group, without exception. The same is true for large

capacity magazine feeding devices.

Murder and Violent Crime Arrests in the 18 to 20 Age Range

In 1997, the most frequent age for arrest for murder was 18, accounting for 8 percent of all arrests

for murder. The second most frequent age for murder was 19, accounting for 8 percent of those

arrests, and the third most frequent age for arrest for murder was 20, accounting for 7 percent. Eighteen to 20 year olds comprised 22 percent of all those arrested for murder. Similarly, the most

frequent age for arrest for violent crime was 18, accounting for 5 percent of all violent crime
Department of the Treasury Department of Justice

2 June 1999

arrests. Eighteen to 20 year olds comprised 14 percent, or one in seven, of all of those arrested

for violent crime. (FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Table 38, 1997).

Criminal Use of Firearms in the 18 to 20 Age Range

In 1997, 18, 19 and 20 year olds ranked first, second, and third in the number of gun homicides

committed. Of all gun homicides where an offender was identified, 24 percent were committed

by 18 to 20 year olds. (Figure 1). This is consistent with the historical pattern of gun homicides

over the past 10 years.

Among murderers, 18 to 20 year olds were more likely to use a firearm than adults 21 and over.

More specifically, in 1997, 74 percent of the homicides committed by 18 to 20 year old offenders

involved firearms. In contrast, only 61 percent of homicides committed by offenders 21 or over

involved firearms. (Table 1). The under-21 offender age groups showed a significant shift toward

the use of firearms in committing homicides by the mid-1980’s. By the 1990’s, these offender

groups were using firearms to commit homicides more than 70 percent of the time. Although the

proportion of 18 to 20 year olds who use firearms to commit homicides has declined since the

1994 peak, it remains higher than levels recorded before 1990. (Figure 2). Similarly, in non-lethal

crimes, including assault, rape, and robbery, 18 to 20 year old offenders were more likely to use

guns than both younger and older offender age groups. For non-lethal crimes of violence from

1992 to 1997, in cases where the weapon and age of offender were identified, 15 percent of 18 to

20 year old offenders used a firearm, in contrast to 10 percent of adult offenders, and 5 percent of

offenders 17 and under. (Table 2).

Youth Gun Acquisition Through the Illegal Market

Young offenders can and do obtain firearms illegally. The complexity of the firearms market

poses a challenge for law enforcement officials seeking to develop strategies to attack the illegal

market that supplies criminals and juveniles. The firearms market includes federal firearms

licensees (FFLs); unregulated sellers and private transferors in what is known as the secondary

market; and the illegal market. The illegal market involves transfers both from FFLs and from

unregulated transferors. Gun violence is also facilitated when firearms are inadequately secured

by FFLs, common carriers, and gun owners, especially parents with children at home.

Recent Law Enforcement Information on the Illegal Market in Firearms

During the past six years, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), working with law

enforcement agencies around the country, academic researchers, and the Department of Justice,

has significantly increased efforts to determine how felons and other prohibited persons, including juveniles and youth offenders, obtain firearms. Better information enables ATF and State and

local law enforcement officials to deploy regulatory and criminal investigative resources more

effectively against illegal traffickers.

ATF has encouraged all law enforcement agencies to submit crime guns for tracing by the National Tracing Center (NTC). An NTC trace can identify the FFL that sold the crime gun as a new

gun, and the purchaser of the crime gun. This information can assist law enforcement officials in

identifying illegal traffickers. ATF has worked with law enforcement officials in an increasing

number of jurisdictions to trace all recovered crime guns as part of an effort to obtain better

investigative and strategic information about how the illegal market in firearms operates locally.
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 3

When crime guns are traced comprehensively, and this information is analyzed, patterns in the

illegal supply can be discerned and illegal sources of supply can be better targeted by law enforcement officials. Crime gun traces by federal, state and local officials grew from about 55,000

traces in 1993, to over 197,000 traces in 1998, a 258 percent increase. Efforts to trace crime guns

comprehensively by jurisdiction and analyze the results to support investigations and arrests of

illegal traffickers in firearms are now underway in 37 cities through the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative (YCGII). The Youth Gun Crime Enforcement Act of 1999 increases this program

to 75 cities over the next four years.

The Structure of the Illegal Market in Firearms

Information derived from analyses of crime gun traces and investigative information confirms

what survey evidence also shows: while some juveniles and criminals steal guns for their own use,

many underage gun users obtain firearms through illegal diversion from retail sources, and from

purveyors of stolen guns.1 While it used to be assumed that there were two primary sources of

illegally supplied firearms — older guns that were stolen, primarily by criminals and juveniles

stealing the guns for their own use, and new guns that were trafficked, primarily across state lines

in bulk — it has become clear that there are many more. These include interstate and intrastate

trafficking in new firearms, used firearms, and in new and used stolen firearms.

Trafficking in new and used firearms involves licensed firearms dealers, including pawnbrokers;

large scale straw purchasers and straw purchasing rings; small scale straw purchasers, e.g. buying

one or a few guns; private sellers, including unlicensed sellers at gun shows and flea markets, or

those who sell through want ads, gun magazines, the Internet, and personal associations; and

bartering and trading within criminal networks. Trafficking in stolen firearms, both new and

used, involves theft from licensed gun dealers, including pawnbrokers; organized fencing of stolen

guns; theft from common carriers; theft from households and automobiles; bartering and trading

within criminal networks; and theft from manufacturers. Law enforcement must address all of

these channels in order to prevent juveniles and other prohibited persons from obtaining firearms.

Crime Gun Trace Information Involving 18 to 20 Year Olds in Selected Cities

Crime gun trace data show that reducing illegal trafficking is essential for reducing firearms

violence in the 18 to 20 age group. For the 27 cities where law enforcement officials submitted all

recovered crime guns for tracing through the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative from August 1997 through July 1998, the most frequent age of crime gun possession was 19, and the

second most frequent was 18. Approximately 15 percent of crime guns were recovered from 18 to

20 year olds. (Figure 3).

Handguns comprised 85 percent of the crime guns known to be recovered from 18 to 20 year olds

in the 27 cities. Semiautomatic pistols accounted for 59 percent of all the crime guns known to

be recovered from this age group. (Table 3). Eighteen to 20 year old crime gun possessors were

1 See e.g. “Gun Acquisition and Possession in Selected Juvenile Samples,” Sheley, Joseph F. and Wright, James D.,

Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, p. 6, December 1993, (12 percent of surveyed juvenile inmates

and 2 percent of surveyed high school students reported stealing their most recent handgun).
Department of the Treasury Department of Justice

4 June 1999

involved in crimes of violence, drug crimes, and in possessing these guns illegally. Crimes of

violence--including homicide, rape, assault, and robbery--and narcotics crimes accounted for 28

percent of the crime gun traces for this age group in the 27 cities. (Table 4).

On average, of the crime guns that were recovered and traced from the 27 cities, an estimated 43

percent moved from the shelf of an FFL to recovery by law enforcement within three years, a time

period ATF considers an indicator of potential illegal trafficking. This estimate includes only

potential trafficking in new guns, not potential trafficking in used and stolen firearms.2 (Table 5).

Analysis of ATF’s recent illegal trafficking investigations involving juveniles and youth shows that

over half of them involved used guns, and 35 percent involved trafficking in stolen firearms.

(Table 7). Finally, crime guns recovered from 18 to 20 year olds are often concentrated among a

relatively few kinds of firearms, and nine of the top ten most frequently traced crime guns in the

27 cities were handguns. (Table 6).

The Youth Gun Crime Enforcement Act of 1999: Provisions to Reduce Youth Gun

Violence

The significant role that 18 to 20 year olds have in gun crime and violence in our Nation demands

that we make changes in the legal regulation of their access to guns. A further benefit to restricting possession of firearms by 18 to 20 year olds will be to decrease the likelihood that younger

family members, friends, and classmates will be able to obtain guns illegally.

Raising the age at which young people can legally obtain unauthorized access to guns is not by

itself enough to reduce the level of gun violence among 18 to 20 year olds. There must be a vigorous attack on the illegal supply of guns to youth, as well as deterrence of illegal youth acquisition

of guns: appropriate punishment of those who transfer guns illegally, and of young persons who

violate laws prohibiting firearms possession or who commit crimes with guns. Different methods

of regulatory and criminal enforcement are needed to reduce the various illegal channels of

supply to 18 to 20 year olds, and punishments must be appropriate for both underage criminal

firearms users and adult felons. The Youth Crime Gun Enforcement Act of 1999 contains a

number of provisions that will address these issues. It will:

• Raise the age for possession of handguns from 18 to 21;

• Prohibit possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity magazines by

persons under the age of 21;

• Require background checks and crime gun tracing records for all firearms sales at gun

shows;

• Increase penalties for those who engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a

license;

• Increase the punishment for serious recordkeeping violations by FFLs;

• Provide new administrative remedies, including license suspension and civil monetary penalties, for FFLs who violate federal firearms laws;

• Increase penalties for transactions involving firearms with obliterated serial numbers;

2 For a full discussion of the methodologies used to arrive at the estimate of the percentage of crime guns moving

from FFL shelf to recovery by law enforcement officials within a three year time period, see Crime Gun Trace Analysis Reports: The Illegal Youth Firearms Markets in 27 Communities, Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco and Firearms, p. 9 and Technical Notes A1-A3, February 1999.
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 5

• Limit individuals to one handgun purchase a month, with certain exceptions;

• Criminalize the transfer of a firearm by one who knows or has reasonable cause to believe

that the firearm will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime;

• Enable used guns to be traced by requiring FFLs to report information about firearms that

are acquired from nonlicensees for resale (without including names or identifying information about firearms purchasers);

• Require FFLs to securely store their firearms inventories;

• Impose responsibility upon common carriers to report the theft or loss of a firearm;

• Prohibit possession of firearms by persons adjudicated delinquent as juveniles for serious

drug offenses or violent felonies;

• Increase the penalty for possession of firearms by persons under 21;

• Include serious juvenile drug trafficking offenses as Armed Career Criminal Act predicates;

• Add a number of gang-related firearms offenses to the RICO statute;

• Increase the number of cities participating in comprehensive crime gun tracing and firearms

law enforcement through the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative.

Adoption of these measures will greatly assist in curbing gun violence by the Nation’s young

people.
Department of the Treasury Department of Justice

6 June 1999

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Age of Offender

Gun Homicides

Gun Homicide Offenders by Age Group

Figure 1

In 1997, 18, 19, and 20 year olds ranked first, second, and third in the number of gun homicides

committed. For each of these ages, the number of homicides exceeded the number for any ages

older or younger than 18 to 20. Of all gun homicides where an offender was identified, 24 percent

were committed by 18 to 20 years olds. This is consistent with the historical pattern of gun

homicides over the past 10 years.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Uniform Crime Reports, Supplemental Homicide Reports, 1997, special

tabulation prepared by Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 7

Homicide Offenders by Type of Weapon and Age Group

Table 1

Age of Offender

Type of Weapon Percent 17 and Under Percent 18-20 Percent 21 and Over Percent Total

Gun 74.6 74.0 61.0 65.5

Other Weapon 23.3 23.8 35.1 31.2

Unknown Weapon 2.1 2.2 3.9 3.3

Total Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Total # of Homicide

Offenders 1,487 2,420 7,723 11,630

Among murderers, 18 to 20 year olds, as well as those 17 and under, were more likely to use a

firearm than adults. More specifically, in 1997, about three quarters of the homicides committed by 18 to 20 year old offenders, and by offenders 17 and under, involved firearms. In contrast,

only about three fifths of homicides committed by offenders 21 or over during 1997 involved

firearms.

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Supplemental Homicide Reports, 1997, special tabulation prepared by Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Department of the Treasury Department of Justice

8 June 1999

1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996

0

20

40

60

80

Year

% of Offenders Using a Firearm

17 and Under

21 and Over

Ages 18-20

Percentage of Homicide Offenders Using a Firearm by Age

Group for the Years 1976-1997

Figure 2

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Supplemental Homicide Reports, 1976-1997, special tabulation prepared by

Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The under-21 offender age groups showed a significant shift toward the greater use of firearms in

committing homicides by the mid-1980’s. By the 1990’s, these offender groups were using firearms to commit homicides more than 70 percent of the time. Although the proportion of 18 to 20

year olds who use firearms to commit homicides has declined since the 1994 peak, it remains

higher than levels recorded before 1990.
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 9

Non-Lethal Crimes of Violence by Type of Weapon and

Offender Age Group

Table 2

Age of Offender

Type of weapon Percent 17 and Under Percent 18-20 Percent 21 and Over

Firearm 5.0 14.8 10.0

Knife 6.9 9.4 7.2

Other Weapon 8.0 10.3 8.8

No Weapon 80.1 65.5 74.4

Total Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0

Total # of

Victimizations 12,449,485 5,505,453 30,971,671

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1992-1997, special tabulation.

In non-lethal crimes, including assault, rape, and robbery, 18 to 20 year old offenders were more

likely to use guns than both younger and older age groups. From 1992 to 1997, in cases where the

weapon and age of offender were identified, 15 percent of 18 to 20 year old offenders used a

firearm, in contrast to 10 percent of adult offenders, and 5 percent of offenders 17 and under.
Department of the Treasury Department of Justice

10 June 1999

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

Crime Gun Trace Requests

Age of Possessors

Crime Gun Possession by Age in Selected Cities

Figure 3

Based on trace requests submitted August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998 from 27 cities

participating in the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative*

For 27 cities where law enforcement officials submitted all recovered crime guns for tracing, the

most frequent age of crime gun possession was 19 (5 percent) and the second most frequent was

18 (5 percent). Approximately 15 percent of crime guns were recovered from 18 to 20 year olds.

*The Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative is a firearms law enforcement program of the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Law enforcement agencies in cities participating with ATF in the program trace all

recovered crime guns with ATF’s National Tracing Center to determine the last known seller and purchaser of the

firearm. This information is used by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to determine patterns of crime

gun supply, and to investigate illegal sources of firearms and arrest firearms offenders. The most recent available

data is from 27 cities that submitted traces during the period August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998. The participating cities

were: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston, Massachusetts; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; Houston, Texas;

Inglewood, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

Richmond,Virginia; Salinas, California; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson,

Arizona; Washington, D.C.

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), National Tracing Center, Youth Crime Gun Interdiction

Initiative 27 Communities Report, 1999. For a discussion of trace analysis methodology, see pp. 7-9 and Technical

Notes.
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 11

Type of Weapon Memphis San Antonio St. Louis Philadelphia Tucson 27 Cities

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

Semiautomatic Pistol 54.5 51.1 33.5 62.0 66.7 58.9

Revolver and other

Handgun 28.8 19.5 35.5 26.8 14.4 26.1

Long Gun 16.5 29.5 30.2 11.2 19.0 14.9

Other .3 0.0 .8 0.0 0.0 .1

Total Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Total # of Cases 400 190 245 508 201 4,888

Type of Crime Guns Recovered From the 18 to 20 Age

Group in Selected Cities

Table 3

Based on trace requests submitted August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998 from 27 cities

participating in the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative*

Handguns (including semiautomatic pistols) comprised 85 percent of the crime guns known to be

recovered from 18 to 20 year olds in 27 cities where law enforcement officials submitted all recovered crime guns for tracing. Semiautomatic pistols clearly predominate, accounting for 59 percent of all the firearms known to be recovered from 18 to 20 year olds in these cities. Information

for five geographically diverse cities among the 27 cities are provided to show local variations.

*The Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative is a firearms law enforcement program of the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Law enforcement agencies in cities participating with ATF in the program trace all

recovered crime guns with ATF’s National Tracing Center to determine the last known seller and purchaser of the

firearm. This information is used by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to determine patterns of crime

gun supply, and to investigate illegal sources of firearms and arrest firearms offenders. The most recent available

data is from 27 cities that submitted traces during the period August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998. The participating cities

were: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston, Massachusetts; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; Houston, Texas;

Inglewood, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

Richmond,Virginia; Salinas, California; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson,

Arizona; Washington, D.C.

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), National Tracing Center, Youth Crime Gun Interdiction

Initiative, 1999, special tabulation prepared by Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. For a discussion of

trace analysis methodology, see Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative 27 Communities Report, 1999, pp. 7-9 and

Technical Notes.
Department of the Treasury Department of Justice

12 June 1999

Type of Crime Associated with Crime Guns Recovered

From the 18 to 20 Age Group in Selected Cities

Table 4

Based on trace requests submitted August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998 from 27 cities

participating in the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative*

Eighteen to 20 year old crime gun possessors were involved in crimes of violence, drug crimes,

and in carrying these guns illegally. Crimes of violence, including homicide, rape, assault, and

robbery, and narcotics crimes accounted for 28 percent of the crime gun traces for this age group

in 27 cities where law enforcement officials submitted all recovered crime guns for tracing. Information from five geographically diverse cities is provided to show local variations.

*The Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative is a firearms law enforcement program of the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Law enforcement agencies in cities participating with ATF in the program trace all

recovered crime guns with ATF’s National Tracing Center to determine the last known seller and purchaser of the

firearm. This information is used by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to determine patterns of crime

gun supply, and to investigate illegal sources of firearms and arrest firearms offenders. The most recent available

data is from 27 cities that submitted traces during the period August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998. The participating cities

were: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston, Massachusetts; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; Houston, Texas;

Inglewood, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

Richmond,Virginia; Salinas, California; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson,

Arizona; Washington, D.C.

Type of Crime Memphis San Antonio St. Louis Philadelphia Tucson 27 Cities

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

Crimes of Violence 9.7 13.1 12.6 24.4 24.3 15.3

Firearms Offense 84.0 43.7 53.9 52.3 45.8 66.1

Narcotics 2.3 25.8 29.8 19.9 18.9 12.7

Property/Fraud 3.0 10.5 3.3 3.0 6.5 3.4

Other 1.0 6.9 .4 .4 4.5 2.5

Total Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Total # of Cases 400 190 245 508 201 4,888

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), National Tracing Center, Youth Crime Gun Interdiction

Initiative, 1999, special tabulation prepared by Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. For a discussion of

trace analysis methodology, see Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative 27 Communities Report, 1999, pp. 7-9 and

Technical Notes.
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 13

Memphis San Antonio St. Louis Philadelphia Tucson 27 Cities

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

3 years or under 43.8 38.0 32.3 44.3 68.3 43.3

Over 3 years 56.2 62.0 67.7 55.7 31.7 56.7

Total Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Total # of Cases 162 100 62 183 126 2,036

Time-to-Crime for Crime Guns Recovered From the 18 to 20

Age Group in Selected Cities

Table 5

Based on trace requests submitted August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998 from 27 cities

participating in the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative*

Time-to-crime is the time it takes for a gun to move from the shelf of a federally licensed firearms

dealer to recovery by a law enforcement official in connection with a crime. ATF considers a

time-to-crime of three years or less an indicator of potential illegal firearms trafficking that can be

investigated by law enforcement to identify an illegal source of supply. On average, of the traced

crime guns recovered from 18 to 20 year olds in 27 cities, 43 percent were fast time-to-crime guns.

*The Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative is a firearms law enforcement program of the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Law enforcement agencies in cities participating with ATF in the program trace all

recovered crime guns with ATF’s National Tracing Center to determine the last known seller and purchaser of the

firearm. This information is used by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to determine patterns of crime

gun supply, and to investigate illegal sources of firearms and arrest firearms offenders. The most recent available

data is from 27 cities that submitted traces during the period August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998. The participating cities

were: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston, Massachusetts; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; Houston, Texas;

Inglewood, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

Richmond,Virginia; Salinas, California; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson,

Arizona; Washington, D.C.

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), National Tracing Center, Youth Crime Gun Interdiction

Initiative, 1999, special tabulation prepared by Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. For a discussion of

the methodologies used to analyze time-to-crime, see Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative 27 Communities Report,

1999, pp. 7-9 and Technical Notes A1-A3.
Department of the Treasury Department of Justice

14 June 1999

Most Frequent Crime Gun Trace Requests by Type,

Manufacturer, and Caliber of Firearm for the 18 to 20 Age

Group in Selected Cities

This table depicts the most frequently recovered and traced crime guns by firearm type, manufacturer, and caliber recovered from 18 to 20 year olds in 27 cities, and in five geographically diverse

cities from among those 27 cities. This report does not distinguish among models of firearms of

the same type, manufacturer and caliber. For instance, all .38 caliber revolvers manufactured by

Smith and Wesson are considered as a group. Recovered crime guns are often concentrated

among relatively few kinds of firearms. This information facilitates strategic enforcement against

illegal traffickers of particular kinds of firearms. To the extent that youth acquisition is being

fueled by illegal trafficking, preventing such trafficking would inhibit youth acquisition of the

handguns, rifles, and shotguns identified below.

Table 6

Based on trace requests submitted August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998 from 27 cities

participating in the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative*

27 Cities

Number of Kinds Number of Percent of

Type of Crime Gun Manufacturer Caliber of Crime Guns Crime Guns Crime Guns

Semiautomatic Pistol Lorcin .380 214 4.4

Revolver Smith & Wesson .38 189 3.9

Semiautomatic Pistol Raven .25 164 3.4

Semiautomatic Pistol Davis .380 141 2.9

Semiautomatic Pistol Ruger 9mm 135 2.8

Semiautomatic Pistol Bryco .380 103 2.1

Semiautomatic Pistol Bryco 9mm 91 1.9

Revolver Smith & Wesson .357 87 1.8

Semiautomatic Pistol Smith & Wesson 9mm 83 1.7

Shotgun Mossberg 12GA 82 1.7

Summary for top weapons: 10 1,289 26.4

All other weapons: 538 3,599 73.6

Memphis, Tennessee

Number of Kinds Number of Percent of

Type of Crime Gun Manufacturer Caliber of Crime Guns Crime Guns Crime Guns

Semiautomatic Pistol Lorcin .380 23 5.8

Revolver Smith & Wesson .357 14 3.5

Semiautomatic Pistol Davis .380 13 3.3

Revolver Smith & Wesson .38 13 3.3

Semiautomatic Pistol Bryco .380 12 3.0

Revolver Rossi .38 11 2.8

Revolver RG Industries .22 10 2.5

Semiautomatic Pistol Ruger 9mm 10 2.5

Semiautomatic Pistol Raven .25 10 2.5

Semiautomatic Pistol Smith & Wesson .38 9 2.3

Summary for top weapons: 10 125 31.3

All other weapons: 143 275 68.8
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 15

San Antonio, Texas

Number of Kinds Number of Percent of

Type of Crime Gun Manufacturer Caliber of Crime Guns Crime Guns Crime Guns

Rifle Norinco 7.62mm 9 4.7

Semiautomatic Pistol Lorcin .380 9 4.7

Semiautomatic Pistol Raven .25 9 4.7

Semiautomatic Pistol Bryco .9mm 8 4.2

Shotgun Mossberg 12GA 7 3.7

Semiautomatic Pistol Ruger 9mm 7 3.7

Revolver Smith & Wesson .38 5 2.6

Rifle Marlin .22 4 2.1

Semiautomatic Pistol Glock 9mm 4 2.1

Revolver Colt .357 4 2.1

Summary for top weapons: 10 66 34.7

All other weapons: 93 124 65.3

St. Louis, Missouri

Number of Kinds Number of Percent of

Type of Crime Gun Manufacturer Caliber of Crime Guns Crime Guns Crime Guns

Revolver Smith & Wesson .38 20 8.2

Rifle Norinco 7.62 7 2.9

Shotgun Mossberg 12GA 7 2.9

Semiautomatic Pistol Davis .380 6 2.4

Rifle Winchester .22 6 2.4

Rifle Marlin .22 6 2.4

Semiautomatic Pistol Lorcin .380 6 2.4

Semiautomatic Pistol Ravin .25 6 2.4

Revolver Rohm .22 4 1.6

Revolver Rossi .38 4 1.6

Summary for top weapons: 10 72 29.4

All other weapons: 116 173 70.6

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Number of Kinds Number of Percent of

Type of Crime Gun Manufacturer Caliber of Crime Guns Crime Guns Crime Guns

Semiautomatic Pistol Bryco 9mm 21 4.1

Revolver Smith & Wesson .38 20 3.9

Semiautomatic Pistol Ruger 9mm 18 3.5

Semiautomatic Pistol Lorcin .380 18 3.5

Semiautomatic Pistol Bryco .380 13 2.6

Semiautomatic Pistol Raven .25 13 2.6

Semiautomatic Pistol Glock 9mm 11 2.2

Semiautomatic Pistol Smith & Wesson .40 10 2.0

Semiautomatic Pistol Davis .380 9 1.8

Revolver Harrington & Richardson .32 9 1.8

Summary for top weapons: 10 142 28.0

All other weapons: 170 366 72.0
Department of the Treasury Department of Justice

16 June 1999

Tucson, Arizona

Number of Kinds Number of Percent of

Type of Crime Gun Manufacturer Caliber of Crime Guns Crime Guns Crime Guns

Semiautomatic Piston Ruger 9mm 10 5.0

Semiautomatic Piston Lorcin .380 8 4.0

Shotgun Mossberg 12GA 8 4.0

Semiautomatic Piston Norino 9mm 7 3.5

Semiautomatic Piston Bryco 9mm 7 3.5

Semiautomatic Piston Smith & Wesson 9mm 7 3.5

Rifle Norinco 7.62 6 3.0

Semiautomatic Piston Glock 9mm 6 3.0

Semiautomatic Piston Hi-Point 9mm 6 3.0

Semiautomatic Piston Lorcin .25 5 2.5

Summary for top weapons: 10 70 34.8

All other weapons: 80 131 65.2

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), National Tracing Center, Youth Crime Gun Interdiction

Initiative, special tabulation prepared by Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. For a discussion of trace

analysis methodology, see Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative 27 Communities Report, 1999, pp. 7-9 and Technical

Notes.

*The Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative is a firearms law enforcement program of the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Law enforcement agencies in cities participating with ATF in the program trace all

recovered crime guns with ATF’s National Tracing Center to determine the last known seller and purchaser of the

firearm. This information is used by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to determine patterns of crime

gun supply, and to investigate illegal sources of firearms and arrest firearms offenders. The most recent available

data is from 27 cities that submitted traces during the period August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998. The participating cities

were: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston, Massachusetts; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; Houston, Texas;

Inglewood, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

Richmond,Virginia; Salinas, California; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson,

Arizona; Washington, D.C.
Department of Justice Department of the Treasury

June 1999 17

Involvement of Used Guns in ATF Illegal Trafficking

Investigations Involving Juveniles and Youth

Table 7

Based on an analysis of 648 ATF illegal trafficking investigations involving youth

(ages 18-24) and/or juveniles (ages 17 and under) conducted by all 23 ATF field

divisions after the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative* commenced in July

1996.

Note: Since more than one type of firearm can be recovered in an investigation, an investigation can be included in more than one category.

Number of Percent of

Type of firearm Investigations Investigations

New guns 507 78.2%

Used guns 357 55.1%

Stolen guns 227 35.0%

Unknown 8 1.2%

Stolen firearms:

New guns 136 61.2%

Used guns 182 80.2%

Mutually exclusive categories for new and used firearms:

New guns only 283 43.6%

New and used guns 224 34.5%

Used guns only 133 20.5%

Unknown 8 1.2%

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), National Tracing Center, Youth Crime Gun Interdiction

Initiative, Performance Report for the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Table 7, p. 16, February 1999.

For a discussion of methodology, see p. 22.

*The Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative is a firearms law enforcement program of the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Law enforcement agencies in cities participating with ATF in the program trace all

recovered crime guns with ATF’s National Tracing Center to determine the last known seller and purchaser of the

firearm. This information is used by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to determine patterns of crime

gun supply, and to investigate illegal sources of firearms and arrest firearms offenders. The most recent available

data is from 27 cities that submitted traces during the period August 1, 1997 to July 31, 1998. The participating cities

were: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston, Massachusetts; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; Houston, Texas;

Inglewood, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

Richmond,Virginia; Salinas, California; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson,

Arizona; Washington, D.C.