
A new Department of Justice study proves that “crime guns” just don’t come from gun shows. Period.
The Department of Justice recently ran a study that did something unique, remarkable, and unprecedented in the annals of federal-government studies: They actually asked the criminals where they get their guns. Then they had the courage to actually present the results, even though those results run 100% counter to the anti-gun narrative. It’s a revelation that will prove shocking to exactly nobody who reads this column, but it just might shock your anti-gun and fence-sitting friends. The study, and its obvious implications for Second Amendment legislation in the coming months, was pointed up in the following fiery press release from the equally fiery past NRA President Marion Hammer. Before I turn the floor over to Ms. Hammer–and never was a woman more aptly named, and that is a compliment–I urge you to bookmark these links (all of which go to .pdf documents):
https://www.nraila.org/media/2838/doj-press-release-on-firearms-use.pdf
https://www.nraila.org/media/2839/doj-data-pie-chart.pdf
https://www.nraila.org/media/2840/doj-report-on-firearms-use.pdf
Take it away, Marion Hammer!
It has now been over a year since the DOJ issued a press release and the Report on where criminals acquire their crime guns. Clearly, the Report did not fit the narrative that the media wanted to promote — or you would have read or heard about it sooner. It’s now time for you to see it, use it and share it with those who need to know the facts.
Be aware: the so-called “gun show loophole” is just another manufactured anti-gun fraud. There is NO GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE. PERIOD.
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice conducted a study of prison inmates. Included in that study was the collection of data to show where prisoners get the guns they used in the commission of crimes. The DOJ Press Release explains how the study was conducted. The Pie Chart of DOJ Data distills the information and makes the results more clear. The full DOJ Report gives more detail.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Gun Shows accounted for 0.8% of firearms acquired by criminals, while Underground/Street purchases accounted for 43.2%.
Simply put, LESS THAN 1% of crime guns were purchased at gun shows while almost half of all guns used in crimes were purchased illegally from the underground/street black market.

Randy Jones says
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Oh sure Trace is using DOJ reports after they were posted on the NRA website. This probably means the NRA has the DOJ in their pocket and on their payroll, how can we trust it now? That would be Mayor Fauxhontas Pete Michael Joe Bernie Klobusar’s take on it. It is amazing how these people can take an oath to uphold the Constitution, but constantly try to dismember it.
Mine take is more like, “No $hit, Sherlock. We’ve been telling you that for 30 years.”
Bruce Clark says
This article is totally bogus. All the download links are not usable. And I have to beg to question. 43.2%+.8%=44%, what about the other 56% of data?
SFC says
Probably stolen from law abiding gun owner’s homes. If you highlight the link and then right click the three links, (one at a time), to the DOJ and NRA citations you can select the go to option and they open up before your eyes! Perhaps you just do not know how to navigate. Unfortunately this website does not allow PDF attachments so I can’t simply show them to you, that you will need to pursue yourself.
Joe J says
Here’s the PDF Summary of the DOJ Report
https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/suficspi16_sum.pdf
Daniel Braatz says
Thanks for helping Mr. Clark out. Although he may have a point: I mean; you can use statistics to prove anything, 83% of the population knows that
Charles E Moore says
Most of the 56% are stolen directly by the criminal that possessed it. A small percentage are bought over-the-counter; some by criminals that did not yet have a conviction record, some via straw purchases.
jim says
If you know how to hightlight, right click and then left click you wouldn’t be making such a stupid statement. Go get one of your grandchildren to show you.
Don Whitney says
Sorry Bruce, but something’s not working properly for you. I was able to access all three links, and they are all they were represented to be. As for 2+2=4 – so you can do arithmetic- what’s your point? This article isn’t bogus, your comment is. The author is making the point that the mainstream media is biased against legitimate gun owners and the so-called “gun show loophole” is so much BS.
Trace Munson says
The links are “real,” you just have to highlight them, then copy and paste them into a new browser window. We left them unlinked on purpose, because some mobile phones will automatically start downloading .pdf files…which is pretty inconvenient if you’re low on battery, data, or storage space! Most of the time we do make sure that the links are “live,” but for .pdf links we try to make it so you can’t accidentally wind up with a 10-mB document slowly downloading itself on your data.
Daniel Braatz says
Thanks for helping Mr. Clark out. Although he may have a point: I mean; you can use statistics to prove anything, 83% of the population knows that
By the way; I always appreciate your articles &, when I’m not being too careful, I usually learn something
DouglasOgle says
Strange about the bogus links=theY all work ON A COMPUTER!!!!
Michael Sarkies says
all 3 links work. highlight a link and right click on it, select the go to option. Voila!
Michael Smith says
Since main stream media will never publish actual findings, I suggest the report be sent to the Chief Twitter and he will re-tweet give the left another reason to go crazy and profess their denial of the facts.
Martin Bare says
Could not have said it better! Do that!
Boris says
Of course! Criminals selling black market would never burglarize homes or steal them. They would reach deep into their pockets and buy them due to their sense of civic duty.and integrity.
Both Parties Suck says
The only reason they want to close the “G.S.L.” is because it’s a way of avoiding a registry of guns, same reason they want any/all private sales banned. I cannot be made to account for all of my firearms If I can say “I sold it” without having to have a record of said sale. And if they can’t have an accurate registry of firearms ownership, then they cannot have an effective confiscation of them.
Chicago Bill says
You have no idea what you are talking about. All 50 states have laws to keep records of you public or private sales. If your “sold gun” is used in a crime and you have nothing but you saying I sold it, you most likely would be charged with a felony.
Francis Barbeau says
No Bill. All 59 States do not have a tracking system on “Private” sales, Gifting, give away to a Friend! I Checked!! You could have done the same!
Francis Barbeau says
Oops fat fingers..50 States!
Richard Schurman says
Chicago Bill:
WTF did you get your bogus BS. First, I know for a fact that ALL 50 states do NOT have a firearms registry. I live in communist WA state and our state even though it is run by communist tyrannists have never been able to get residents to register their firearms with the state unless you are applying for a concealed permit. I suspect you are either misinformed or just another lying sack of coprolite. Which is it? Are you a lying communist gun hater or just too lazy to verify what you post so you make up shit to satiate your weak ego,
ocifer says
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the “GUNSHOW LOOPHOLE” is a term “MADEUP” to scare sheep….exactly like the scary term “GHOST GUN”…its only a ghost to the registry advocates who want to run amok in confiscation themes…”BECAUSE” you can have a gun youll shoot your eye out!…….is all complete do doo to preset a registry for confiscation nothing more!….
bad guys with bad intentions do not go to your local gun shop to legally purchase a firearm….
VA Alex says
I have to disagree with the last part of your post as I’ve been in my dealer many times and seen him hang up the phone with a disgusted look on his face and say “dude you knew you’re a felon why waste my time “ only to hear a reply of that’s still on my record or I’m still in court for that and haven’t been convicted yet. But do the cops ever show up to arrest these guys?! NOPE
n.r. ringlee says
The Progressive New Left has never been driven by fact or logic. You need to understand that when dealing with them. They hide behind brands like “liberal”, “progressive,” ‘Social democrat’ or just plain democrat but they dishonor those titles. They are simply totalitarian Bolsheviks who hate liberty and work endlessly toward the destruction of liberty by destroy institutions and undermining rights. A great deal of what they practice today they learned from Jim Crow laws and other racist efforts to suppress and oppress vilified classes of people. That is why Identity Politics, or better stated Victim Class Politics is such a key component of their strategy. They were born in a fraud, the anti-War movement of the 1960’s and morphed in to successive frauds while wearing masks. Make no mistake. They do not debate issues. They break skulls. The key is to focus on the majority of Americans who do not see through their sheep’s clothing and take them at their word. You can reach the majority with logic, fact and reasoned argument. For the hard core leftists there is not reasoning. They are antimatter to liberty, cannot live peacefully and loyally in a free republic and we cannot exist peacefully beside them. They will forever rot the republic from within. Rust never sleeps. It must be sand blasted clean and painted over with Red, White and Blue. That will be our task in the near future. Be ready to wager your lives, your property and your sacred honor. The left in America has brought us to the point of no return. Semper Fidelis
Will says
Amen…whenever you’re ready.
John Z says
Life , Liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a way of life not a hobby. Army of One
Daniel Braatz says
And there are many facts to support you excellent comment. One that I find most disturbing is the fact that the KKK was started by Democrats. Time for another Tea Party- – a big one this time
DJ says
But then where did the “underground/street black market” people get the guns? I doubt they were legal purchases. Just curious!
Jack says
Most are stolen, or bought through gun dealers who knowingly sell to criminals. In my state we even had a police officer break into the police training range and steal the guns from there and sell them (illegally) over the internet out of state to an individual.
Chris says
It goes a little something like this(most of the time)……
-Joe Methhead breaks into your home/car, and steals your gun.
-Joe Methhead trades said gun(s) to Sammy Dealer for his fix.
-Sammy Dealer sells the gun(s) to Joey Gangbanger.
-Joey Gangbanger now has a “throwdown gun” that can’t be traced back to him if he’s not caught.
-Wash, rinse, repeat.
Gary Hull says
As usual when anything doesn’t fit the current media narrative they dismiss it. I don’t care if you believe, but virtually all our problems are the result of our illustrious mass media ineptness. Gary
SFC says
Gary, I think we have ample proof this is not the result of inept media, no, they know exactly what they are doing and it is by design, They are willfully ignorant of the facts and want us to believe their alternate version.
They know very well what they are doing is a massive lie, and when confronted they scream RUSSIA! – or RACIST! And follow it up by regurgitating liberal socialist swill instead of apologizing and correcting the record.
AJ says
It might be logical to deduce that a significant percentage of the remaining 56% of firearms used by criminals are stolen during vehicle and home burglaries.
2a says
No need to deduce anything, it’s all in the pie graph
Fred says
There is a problem with the “stolen guns” tally. Most stolen guns are never reported as stolen while about 20% are only reported as stolen after they are found at the scene of a crime. Most, if not all, of these “stolen” guns are probably straw purchases, as well as most of the “stolen” guns that are never reported. Both the purchaser and the possessor claim the guns are stolen after the fact to protect themselves and their suppliers, which are usually “friends and family”. There is no way to stop straw purchases without following the gun around once it is purchased because there is no way to stop people from willfully lying and committing fraud on behalf of someone else. We can’t ever know the true number of straw purchases so the “stolen” category is highly flawed, even if you ask criminals nicely.
Because of this, the “friends and family” category of crime guns should be closer to 80%, but there is no way to substantiate the claim because the whole topic revolves around lies and fraud.
Kevin says
All unsubstaiated drivel. I believe that liberals purchase them and sell tthem to their criminal friends to use during crime sprees. Causing mass killings
In democratic run cities and counties. We can not stop them because they have expertise in double speak and never believe facts..
Larry says
The chinck in the Anti’s armour is a true fact. Facts piss ’em off. Now they will move on to some other baseless non-fact.