Justice Department officials argue that federalizing every gun crime is not the best way to pursue justice. Preliminary figures from the Bureau of Justice Statistics show the federal government charged only 461 people in 1999 with illegally transferring firearms. In 1992-96, state courts dealt with 85 to 90 percent of the 30,000 to 35,000 people convicted in each of those years for weapons offenses. The Justice Department thinks that local jurisdictions should handle most gun cases.
Officials there stress they are more interested in going after violent criminals.