A Few Bad Apples: Small Number of Gun Dealers the Source of Thousands of Crimes A report by Senator Charles E. Schumer Results in Brief One percent of the nation's federally licensed firearms dealers are responsible for selling nearly half of the guns traced to crime in 1998, according Senator Charles Schumer's analysis of raw ATF data. And 137 gun stores, a tiny one-tenth of one percent of the dealers, account for more than 13,000 guns traced to crime. This report shows that criminals, likely through straw purchasers, rely on the same stores to supply them with guns year after year. Of the 137 firearms dealers which were the source of more than 50 crime guns in 1998, 71% were also the source of more than 50 crime guns in 1997. 41% were the source of more than 50 crime guns in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Between 1996 and 1998, these 137 dealers were the source of more than 34,000 crime guns. And thus far, only 23 of these 137 gun dealers have been shut down. Schumer this week will offer new legislation creating special reporting requirements and adding stiff sanctions for stores which habitually show up as the source of large numbers of crime guns. Schumer's proposed law mandates a minimum of a 90-day license suspension for gun dealers who willfully break federal firearms law and are the source of more than 10 guns traced to crime in a previous year. Serious violations of federal firearms law by high-volume crime gun dealers would result in automatic license revocation. The bill would also require unlicensed persons who acquire and then quickly resell handguns and semiautomatic assault weapons to have licensed dealers perform background checks and keep records for these "secondary market" sales. It will also allow ATF unlimited stings of these stores. They are currenly limited to one per year unless they have a warrant. A Few Firearms Dealers Sell Most Crime Guns In recent years, law enforcement in cities and counties across America have increased the number of gun trace requests through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The new trace data gives law enforcement and policymakers a new resource to understand and track the flow of guns from a legal object to a weapon used in crime. Gun laws vary from state to state, and it is apparent from earlier analyses that certain states with weak gun laws are the main supplier of guns to criminals in states with strong gun laws. But there has never been an analysis that looks at specific gun dealers to see if they habitually show up as a source of crime guns. Last year, 21,675 federally licensed firearms dealers, roughly 20% of the dealers in the United States, were the source of all 77,010 guns traced to crimes committed in 1998. But even that statistic obscures the fact that a tiny minority of firearms dealers were responsible for most of the guns used in crime. For example, 1,160 gun dealers representing 1.1% of the nation's gun stores were the source of 34,626 crime guns last year. These stores each sold more than 10 crime guns and accounted for 45% of all crime gun traces. 137 gun dealers, roughly one-tenth of one percent of all gun dealers in America, sold 13,277 guns traced to crimes committed in 1998. 137 Bad Apples Each of these 137 stores sold more than 50 guns traced to crimes last year. Most of these 137 gun stores show up year after year as the source of many guns traced to crime. Between 1996-1998, these 137 gun dealers were the source of 34,631 guns traced to crime. Among the 137 worst dealers, several gun stores stand out as the worst of the worst and were the source of hundreds of crime guns. * A dealer in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin was the source of 1,195 guns traced to crimes committed between 1996 and 1998. * A Riverdale, Illinois dealer was the source of 1,176 guns traced to crimes committed between 1996 and 1998. * A dealer in Bedford Heights, Ohio was the source of 687 guns traced to crimes committed between 1996 and 1998. * A dealer in Decatur, Georgia was the source of 607 guns traced to crimes committed between 1996 and 1998. * A dealer in Carson City, Nevada was the source of 326 guns traced to crimes in 1998. In this store, all but two of the crimes were committed outside of Nevada. * A Morgan, Utah dealer is the source of 119 crime guns in 1998, all out of state. * Florida, at 17 gun dealers, is the state with the most gun stores responsible for over fifty guns traced to crimes committed last year; followed by Indiana (15 gun stores), Georgia (15), California (12), Virginia (10), Illinois (10), and Texas (10). Miami is home to nine of these dealers representing 840 guns traced to crime in 1998. Most of the Worst Gun Stores are Not Located in High Crime Areas The gun store with the most crime gun traces in New York State is a Farmingdale, Long Island (closed down since April, 1997) store located nearly an hour from New York City. That is not unusual. Typically, most of the worst gun stores are either in suburbs of large cities or in rural areas far from where crimes are committed. In addition, some stores sell guns that are used almost exclusively in crimes committed in other states. In most of these areas there are scores of federally licensed gun dealers to choose from (there are about as many gun stores in America as there are gas stations), yet only a few show up as major sources of crime guns. While some gun stores might be the source of crime guns simply because of the large volume of guns they sell, others are likely to be stores that criminals and straw purchasers have discovered are lax with state and federal gun laws. The following is a sample of where some of the high crime gun dealers are located. High Crime Gun Dealers Located in Cities and Suburbs * 7 Illinois dealers are located in Chicago suburbs. These dealers in Riverdale, Elmwood Park, Lincolnwood, Melrose Park, Franklin Park, Oak Lawn and Lyons sold 3,648 guns traced to crimes committed between 1996 and 1998. * 12 Georgia dealers are located in or around Atlanta. These dealers in Atlanta (2), Jonesboro (2), Decatur (2), Doraville (2), East Point, Smyrna, Mableton, and Marietta sold 3,303 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 1998. * 6 Indianapolis gun stores sold 2,447 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 1998. High Crime Gun Dealers Located in Rural Areas * Gallipolis, Ohio, on the Kentucky border, with a population of 5,085 and 15 full-time police officers, is home to a dealer which sold 158 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 1998. * Trafford, Alabama, with a population of 739, is the home of a dealer that sold 193 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 1998. * Kemp, Texas, population 1,184, is home to a dealer which sold 90 guns traced to crimes committed in 1998. Notable Locations of Other High Crime Gun Dealers * A Farmingdale, Long Island dealer is the source of 203 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 1998. * A Fayetteville, North Carolina store is the source of 107 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 1998 - all out of state. * A Morgan, Utah store is the source of 183 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 1998 - all but one out of state. * A Carson City, Nevada store is the source of 452 guns traced to crimes between 1996 and 1998 - all but two out of state. High Crime Gun Stores Stand Out as Outliers within their State Most gun stores had no guns traced to crimes committed last year, and most of the remainder had fewer than five guns traced to crime. In Nevada, for example, there are 798 licensed firearms dealers. 121 of them had at least one gun traced to a crime committed last year. Only one gun store had more than 20 guns traced to crimes. This store was the source of 326 crime guns last year. In New Jersey, there are 735 licensed firearms dealers. 140 of them had at least one gun traced to a crime committed last year. Only two gun stores had more than 25 guns traced to crimes. One store, in North Plainfield, was the source of 66 crime guns last year. In Indiana, there are 2,658 licensed firearms dealers. 525 of them had at least one gun traced to a crime committed last year. Fifteen stores were the source 1,590 guns traced to crimes last year. In New York, there are 2,974 licensed firearms dealers. 492 of them had at least one gun traced to a crime committed last year. Three stores were the source of more than 50 guns traced to crimes committed last year, and a Farmingdale, Long Island store was the source of 112 crime guns. 114 of 137 of the Worst Stores Remain in Operation Typically it takes between two and six years from the time when a gun is bought to when it is recovered in a crime. A gun store which has been lax can have crime repercussions for years to come. Of the 137 worst dealers, 23 are now out of business. The following is a list of the locations of the 23 high crime gun dealers which have either gone out of business or had their license revoked by ATF: Trafford, AL (1993), Tucson, AZ (1998), Northridge, CA (1996), Hamden, CT (1995), Jacksonville, FL (1997), 5 Miami, FL dealers (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999), Doraville, GA (1996), Gary, Indiana (1993), Chalmette, LA (1998), Farmingdale, NY (1997), Cleveland, OH (1999), Gallipolis, OH (1997), Montgomeryville, PA (1997), Kemp, TX (1998), Garland, TX (1999), Dallas, TX (1996), Richmond, VA (1994), Hampton, VA (1996), Milwaukee, WI (1996). The following table lists the locations of each of the 137 gun stores which were the source of more than 50 guns traced to crimes committed in 1998. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The 137 Worst Gun Dealers: Guns Traced to Crimes Committed (1996-1998) * Seventeen gun dealers in Florida are the source of 2,422 crime guns (1,571 guns in 1998). Stores are located in Miami (9), Hialeah (2), Jacksonville (2), Tallahassee, Ft. Lauderdale, Naranja, and Apopka. Three Florida dealers are the source of 422 guns traced to crimes out of state - one each in Apopka, Jacksonville, and Miami. * Fifteen gun dealers in Indiana are the source of 5,119 crime guns (1,590 in 1998). Stores are located in Indianapolis (6), Gary (3), Lake Station, Camby, Chesterton, Valparaiso, Griffith, and Merrillville. Seven Indiana dealers are the source of 716 guns traced to crimes out of state - two in Indianapolis, and 1 in Lake Station, Chesterton, Valparaiso, Gary, and Camby. * Fifteen gun dealers in Georgia are the source of 3,726 crime guns (1,416 in 1998). Stores are located in Atlanta (2), Doraville (2), Decatur (2), Jonesboro (2), East Point, Smyrna, Bogart, Chickamauga, Mableton, Marietta, and Macon. Seven Georgia dealers are the source of 747 guns traced to crimes out of state - two in Doraville, and 1 in Smyrna, Jonesboro, Chickamauga, East Point, and Decatur. * Twelve dealers in California are the source of 2,468 crime guns (1,120 in 1998). Stores are located in North Hollywood (2), Chino (2), San Leandro, Fontana, Compton, National City, Hawthorne, Signal Hill, Northridge, and Reseda. Four California dealers are the source of 348 guns traced to crimes out of state - one each in Chino, Fontana, Compton, and San Leandro. * Ten dealers in Virginia are the source of 2,971 crime guns (1,123 in 1998). Stores are located in Richmond (3), Hampton (2), Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, Virginia Beach Alexandria and Carrollton. Six Virginia dealers are the source of 740 guns traced to crimes out of state - Two in Richmond and Hampton, and one each in Alexandria and Glen Allen. * Ten dealers in Illinois are the source of 4,287 gun crimes (1,084 in 1998). Stores are located in Riverdale, Elmwood Park, Lincolnwood, Melrose, Lyons, Oak Lawn, Franklin Park, Dundee, Decatur, Collinsville. One dealer in Decatur is responsible for 73 guns traced to crimes out of state. * Ten dealers in Texas are the source of 1,500 gun crimes (1,041 in 1998). Stores are located in Dallas (3), Spring, McKinney, Irving, Kemp, Mesquite, Garland, and Grand Prairie. One dealer in Spring is responsible for 114 guns traced to crimes out of state. * Nine dealers in Tennessee are the source of 1,509 gun crimes (926 in 1998). Stores are located in Memphis (4), Nashville (3), Lavergne and Smyrna. * Seven dealers in Ohio are the source of 1,801 gun crimes (882 in 1998). Stores are located in Bedford Heights, Columbus, Akron, Gallipolis, Cleveland, Washington Court House, and North College Hill. Four Ohio dealers are the source of 347 guns traced to crimes out of state - two in Columbus and one each in Gallipolis and Mansfield. * Six dealers in Maryland are the source of 1,678 gun crimes (537 in 1998). Stores are located in Baltimore (4), Forestville and Silver Spring. The Forestville store is responsible for 227 guns traced to crimes out of state. * Six dealers in Pennsylvania are the source of 1,046 gun crimes (477 in 1998). Stores are located in Philadelphia (3), Wilkinsburg, Upper Darby, and Montgomeryville. * Four dealers in North Carolina are the source of 905 gun crimes (400 in 1998). Stores are located in Charlotte (3) and Fayetteville. One store in Fayetteville is responsible for 107 guns traced to crimes out of state. * Three dealers, located in West Milwaukee, Milwaukee and West Allis, Wisconsin are the source of 1,625 crime guns (618 in 1998). * Three dealers, located in Huntsville, Tarramt, and Trafford, Alabama are the source of 874 crime guns (279 in 1998). The same three dealers are responsible for 301 guns traced to crimes out of state. * Three dealers, located in Chalmette, Jefferson and Baton Rouge, Louisiana are the source of 863 crime (400 in 1998). * Three dealers, located in Farmingdale, Buffalo, and Binghamton, New York are the source of 472 crime guns (248 in 1998). * Two dealers in Tucson, Arizona are the source of 790 crime guns (260 in 1998). Four Arizona dealers are the source of 352 guns traced to crimes out of state - 2 in Glendale and 1 in Tucson and Phoenix. * Two dealers, located in Robbinsdale and Minneapolis, Minnesota are the source of 380 crime guns (144 in 1998). * Two dealers, located in Dellwood and St. Louis, Missouri are the source of 525 crime guns (183 in 1998). * One store in Carson City, Nevada is the source of 452 crime guns (326 in 1998) - all but two were used in crimes out of state. * One store in Hamden, Connecticut is the source of 134 crime guns (62 in 1998). * One store in New Castle, Delaware is the source of 235 crime guns (63 in 1998). * One dealer in Overland Park, Kansas is the source of 232 crime guns (92 in 1998). All but three of those guns were used in crimes out of state. * One store in Morgan, Utah is the source of 183 crime guns (119 in 1998) - all but one were used in crimes out of state. * One store in North Plainfield, New Jersey is the source of 158 crime guns (66 in 1998). * One store in Exeter, New Hampshire is the source of 78 crime guns (59 in 1998) - all used in crimes out of state. * One store in Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico is the source of 261 crime guns (51 in 1998). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ New York State Fact Sheet 31 Gun Stores Account for more Crime Guns than the Remaining 2,941 stores New York State has some of the toughest gun laws in America, and as in years past, most of the guns used in crimes committed in New York were bought out of state. And the vast majority of state gun stores had no guns traced to crime. However, 13 separate gun dealers were the source of more than 25 guns traced to crime in 1998. And one dealer sold over 100 crime guns. * New York State is home to 2,974 federally licensed firearms dealers. 492 dealers were the source of at least one gun traced to crime in 1998; 2,482 licensed dealers - 83% of the state's gun dealers - had no crime guns traced back to their stores. * 31 gun dealers were the source of more than 10 guns traced to crimes committed in 1998. These 31 gun dealers account for more crime guns (841) than the remaining 2,943 licensed New York dealers (814). * 10 gun dealers had between twenty-six and fifty guns traced back to their stores. * 3 gun dealers had more than 50 guns traced back to their stores. A Buffalo store had 83 guns traced to crimes committed in 1998, 58 guns in 1997, and 37 in 1996. A Binghamton store had 53 guns traced to crimes committed in 1998, 28 guns in 1997, and 2 in 1996. A Farmingdale, LI store (now out of business) had 112 guns traced to crimes committed in 1998, 71 guns 1997, and 28 in 1996. * 1,377 of the guns traced back to New York dealers were used in New York State crimes; 278 were used in crimes committed in other states. Unlucky 13: Location of New York's Worst Gun Stores Guns Traced to Crimes Committed in 1998 Farmingdale (out of business) 112 guns Buffalo 83 guns Binghamton 53 guns Conklin 39 guns Farmingdale 38 guns Buffalo 36 guns Rochester 33 guns Holcomb 32 guns Lockport 32 guns Rochester 28 guns Rochester 27 guns Rochester 26 guns Most New York Crimes Still Committed with Out of State Guns In 1998, ATF successfully traced 4,260 guns used in New York State crimes. 1,377 guns were bought in New York State gun stores (32%). In the typical state, roughly two-thirds of the guns used in crime are bought in the same state as the crime. Criminals in states with strong gun laws, like New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, must rely on the black market to acquire out-of-state guns to commit crimes. The leading out-of-state source of guns to New York criminals in 1998 are: * Virginia - 429 guns * Florida - 359 guns * Georgia - 333 guns * North Carolina - 257 guns * South Carolina - 239 guns The leading out-of-state source of guns to criminals nationally in 1998 are: * Georgia - 1609 guns * Florida - 1595 guns * Virginia - 1386 guns * California - 1295 guns * Texas - 1176 guns * North Carolina - 1071 guns * Mississippi - 1045 guns * Ohio - 870 guns * Alabama - 843 guns * Indiana - 839 guns