A new report finds that gun trafficking is a significant and growing driver of gun violence in communities across the country—and that the gun industry plays a central role in enabling it. The report, from Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, reveals that by the end of 2026, an estimated 1.27 million firearms will have been illegally trafficked since 2017, with trafficked guns used in twice as many shootings as non-trafficked guns. And far from being the victim of criminal activity in such cases, the gun industry profits substantially from this illegal flow, raking in a conservative estimate of $695 million in sales from trafficked firearms between 2017 and 2023.
The report details how gun dealers serve as the primary entry point for trafficked firearms into the illegal market, often through straw purchasing and unlicensed dealing—the two top trafficking methods, which together account for more than half of all trafficked guns. It also highlights the federal government’s retreat from proper oversight under the Trump Administration, which has systematically weakened efforts to identify and shut down trafficking pipelines. In the face of this federal abdication, the report outlines steps state leaders can take to fill the gap, including:
- Using data to identify, interrupt, and prosecute trafficking,
- Implementing robust regulatory oversight of gun dealers, and
- Enacting foundational gun safety laws that deter trafficking.