States with the most firearms traced to them by the federal government
Jim Watson/AFP // Getty Images
States with the most firearms traced to them by the federal government
Large guns hanging in a gun shop with an American flag on top.
Firearm traces by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives begin at the request of a law enforcement agency when a firearm is found at a crime scene. They are designed to help law enforcement agencies track the sale and possession of such firearms. A firearm is normally traced to the first retail seller.
Agencies may request traces for any investigative reason, which they do not necessarily report to the federal government, and it’s important to remember not all firearms used in crimes are traced, and not all traced firearms are used in crimes.
Once a trace is initiated, the ATF receives information from eTrace, a web-based method of tracing the purchase and history of firearms used in violent crimes, which identifies the manufacturer or importer and the original licensee. From there, the trace becomes a manual process of combing through transaction records to find the first purchaser.
When firearms are traced, it is not for the purpose of determining which types, makes, or models are used for illicit purposes, nor do the firearms selected for traces constitute a random sample; therefore, they should not be considered representative of all firearms used by criminals or of the methods by which firearms, in general, are acquired for use in the commission of crimes.
How trace information is used has been restricted by the Tiahrt Amendments, which have been attached to the federal appropriations (i.e., funding) devoted to the Department of Justice since 2003. The amendments hamstring the DOJ in several ways from more robust firearm tracing, including prohibiting the release of firearm trace data to the public. But the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed in 2022 now requires more individuals who sell guns to register as federally licensed firearm dealers and closes the “boyfriend loophole,” barring intimate partners convicted of domestic abuse from obtaining firearms.
Stacker assembled firearms trace data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to see which states had the most trace requests tied to them in 2021.
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#51. Hawaii
An aerial view of Honolulu on the water.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 0.76
– Total firearms: 110
— Pistols: 53
— Revolvers: 11
— Rifles: 35
— Shotguns: 11
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 0
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#50. Vermont
An aerial view of Montpelier.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 3.73
– Total firearms: 241
— Pistols: 132
— Revolvers: 26
— Rifles: 59
— Shotguns: 24
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 0
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#49. Maine
An aerial view of Portland.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 3.74
– Total firearms: 513
— Pistols: 288
— Revolvers: 63
— Rifles: 106
— Shotguns: 46
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 5
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 5
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#48. Connecticut
Historic buildings in Fall in Meriden.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 4.47
– Total firearms: 1,612
— Pistols: 1,201
— Revolvers: 181
— Rifles: 129
— Shotguns: 89
— Derringers: 6
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 6
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#47. Massachusetts
Downtown Boston at twilight.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 4.61
– Total firearms: 3,222
— Pistols: 2,313
— Revolvers: 337
— Rifles: 356
— Shotguns: 182
— Derringers: 10
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 10
— Other: 14
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#46. New Jersey
Aerial view of homes in Dover.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 5.06
– Total firearms: 4,685
— Pistols: 3,403
— Revolvers: 584
— Rifles: 399
— Shotguns: 249
— Derringers: 20
— Machine guns: 14
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 16
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#45. Wyoming
Aerial view of downtown Casper.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 5.06
– Total firearms: 293
— Pistols: 151
— Revolvers: 35
— Rifles: 79
— Shotguns: 24
— Derringers: 4
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 0
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#44. New Hampshire
Boats and homes on the water in Portsmouth.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 5.08
– Total firearms: 705
— Pistols: 404
— Revolvers: 75
— Rifles: 137
— Shotguns: 72
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 4
— Other: 13
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#43. New York
An aerial view of the Empire State Building and surrounding buildings.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 5.17
– Total firearms: 10,264
— Pistols: 7,144
— Revolvers: 1,324
— Rifles: 1,014
— Shotguns: 601
— Derringers: 82
— Machine guns: 66
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 33
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#42. Rhode Island
Large boats and buildings on the water in Newport.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 6.06
– Total firearms: 664
— Pistols: 508
— Revolvers: 63
— Rifles: 57
— Shotguns: 34
— Derringers: 2
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 0
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#41. Washington
Seattle skyline.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 7.20
– Total firearms: 5,569
— Pistols: 3,505
— Revolvers: 539
— Rifles: 934
— Shotguns: 529
— Derringers: 23
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 39
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#40. Idaho
Aerial view of Boise.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 7.24
– Total firearms: 1,376
— Pistols: 895
— Revolvers: 162
— Rifles: 207
— Shotguns: 94
— Derringers: 7
— Machine guns: 4
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 7
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#39. Iowa
Des Moines skyline.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 8.07
– Total firearms: 2,576
— Pistols: 1,783
— Revolvers: 196
— Rifles: 338
— Shotguns: 236
— Derringers: 16
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 7
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#38. Minnesota
Downtown Duluth from the water.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 8.07
– Total firearms: 4,605
— Pistols: 3,417
— Revolvers: 337
— Rifles: 455
— Shotguns: 365
— Derringers: 8
— Machine guns: 11
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 12
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#37. Utah
Salt Lake City by the snowy mountains.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 9.05
– Total firearms: 3,021
— Pistols: 2,089
— Revolvers: 243
— Rifles: 446
— Shotguns: 223
— Derringers: 10
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 10
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#36. South Dakota
Aerial view of Rapid City.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 9.24
– Total firearms: 827
— Pistols: 457
— Revolvers: 90
— Rifles: 165
— Shotguns: 98
— Derringers: 11
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 6
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#35. West Virginia
Aerial view of bridges going over water into Harpers Ferry.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 9.52
– Total firearms: 1,698
— Pistols: 1,083
— Revolvers: 191
— Rifles: 252
— Shotguns: 139
— Derringers: 23
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 10
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#34. North Dakota
Downtown Fargo in the snow.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 9.94
– Total firearms: 770
— Pistols: 437
— Revolvers: 82
— Rifles: 157
— Shotguns: 90
— Derringers: 4
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 0
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#33. Montana
Aerial view of downtown Billings.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 10.63
– Total firearms: 1,174
— Pistols: 563
— Revolvers: 115
— Rifles: 362
— Shotguns: 124
— Derringers: 5
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 5
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#32. Alaska
Aerial view of colorful homes in Ketchikan.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 10.82
– Total firearms: 793
— Pistols: 506
— Revolvers: 69
— Rifles: 134
— Shotguns: 77
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 3
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 4
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#31. Nebraska
Aerial view of downtown Omaha.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 11.31
– Total firearms: 2,221
— Pistols: 1,298
— Revolvers: 205
— Rifles: 473
— Shotguns: 230
— Derringers: 10
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 5
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#30. Arkansas
Aerial view of downtown Hot Springs in evening.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 11.70
– Total firearms: 3,541
— Pistols: 2,675
— Revolvers: 247
— Rifles: 409
— Shotguns: 165
— Derringers: 16
— Machine guns: 18
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 11
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#29. Pennsylvania
Aerial view of downtown Pittsburgh.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 11.86
– Total firearms: 15,370
— Pistols: 11,194
— Revolvers: 1,433
— Rifles: 1,667
— Shotguns: 903
— Derringers: 61
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 40
— Other: 72
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#28. Wisconsin
Homes and buildings on the water in Bayfield.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 11.98
– Total firearms: 7,062
— Pistols: 5,666
— Revolvers: 443
— Rifles: 568
— Shotguns: 346
— Derringers: 20
— Machine guns: 8
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 11
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#27. Colorado
Aerial view of Colorado Springs in the mountains.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 12.10
– Total firearms: 7,035
— Pistols: 4,923
— Revolvers: 654
— Rifles: 885
— Shotguns: 518
— Derringers: 35
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 20
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#26. Michigan
Detroit skyline at sunset.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 12.27
– Total firearms: 12,329
— Pistols: 9,930
— Revolvers: 673
— Rifles: 1,047
— Shotguns: 440
— Derringers: 33
— Machine guns: 162
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 44
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#25. Oregon
Aerial view of downtown Portland at sunset.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 12.82
– Total firearms: 5,445
— Pistols: 3,266
— Revolvers: 622
— Rifles: 1,081
— Shotguns: 425
— Derringers: 32
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 19
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#24. Oklahoma
Aerial view of downtown Oklahoma City.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 13.30
– Total firearms: 5,302
— Pistols: 3,904
— Revolvers: 442
— Rifles: 567
— Shotguns: 316
— Derringers: 30
— Machine guns: 24
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 19
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#23. California
Aerial view of palm trees over downtown Redlands.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 13.85
– Total firearms: 54,338
— Pistols: 36,768
— Revolvers: 5,356
— Rifles: 7,695
— Shotguns: 3,456
— Derringers: 233
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 417
— Other: 413
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#22. Virginia
Aerial view of Fredericksburg at sunset.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 14.10
– Total firearms: 12,184
— Pistols: 9,245
— Revolvers: 919
— Rifles: 1,283
— Shotguns: 638
— Derringers: 37
— Machine guns: 17
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 45
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#21. Kansas
An entrance sign to Topeka.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 14.63
– Total firearms: 4,292
— Pistols: 3,146
— Revolvers: 360
— Rifles: 470
— Shotguns: 265
— Derringers: 22
— Machine guns: 15
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 14
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#20. Illinois
Downtown Chicago skyline at sunset.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 15.09
– Total firearms: 19,120
— Pistols: 15,481
— Revolvers: 1,507
— Rifles: 1,190
— Shotguns: 750
— Derringers: 71
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 121
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#19. Kentucky
Aerial view of rural Kentucky.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 15.11
– Total firearms: 6,812
— Pistols: 5,065
— Revolvers: 486
— Rifles: 937
— Shotguns: 250
— Derringers: 32
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 28
— Other: 14
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#18. Indiana
Aerial view of small town Nappanee.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 15.21
– Total firearms: 10,349
— Pistols: 8,056
— Revolvers: 775
— Rifles: 889
— Shotguns: 519
— Derringers: 64
— Machine guns: 17
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 29
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#17. Texas
Aerial view of downtown El Paso.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 15.40
– Total firearms: 45,479
— Pistols: 36,045
— Revolvers: 2,881
— Rifles: 4,127
— Shotguns: 1,990
— Derringers: 144
— Machine guns: 219
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 73
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#16. Florida
A bridge over the water in Clearwater.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 15.76
– Total firearms: 34,336
— Pistols: 26,179
— Revolvers: 2,897
— Rifles: 2,955
— Shotguns: 1,482
— Derringers: 135
— Machine guns: 633
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 55
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#15. Maryland
Boats on the water in Anapolis.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 15.92
– Total firearms: 9,816
— Pistols: 6,269
— Revolvers: 860
— Rifles: 1,567
— Shotguns: 1,028
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 33
— Other: 59
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#14. Mississippi
A busy main street in Vicksburg.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 16.08
– Total firearms: 4,744
— Pistols: 3,518
— Revolvers: 358
— Rifles: 574
— Shotguns: 254
— Derringers: 22
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 5
— Other: 13
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#13. Missouri
A highway and homes in the green hills in Branson.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 16.45
– Total firearms: 10,148
— Pistols: 8,097
— Revolvers: 686
— Rifles: 812
— Shotguns: 435
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 47
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 71
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#12. Arizona
An aerial view of Sedona in the red mountains.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 16.54
– Total firearms: 12,038
— Pistols: 8,963
— Revolvers: 649
— Rifles: 1,393
— Shotguns: 611
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 345
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 77
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#11. Delaware
An aerial view of downtown Wilmington.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 16.68
– Total firearms: 1,674
— Pistols: 1,222
— Revolvers: 129
— Rifles: 159
— Shotguns: 154
— Derringers: 7
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 3
— Other: 0
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#10. Alabama
Aerial view of downtown Birmingham.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 17.55
– Total firearms: 8,847
— Pistols: 6,888
— Revolvers: 804
— Rifles: 702
— Shotguns: 378
— Derringers: 43
— Machine guns: 16
— Unknown types: 7
— Other: 9
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#9. Ohio
Aerial view of downtown Cleveland.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 17.68
– Total firearms: 20,826
— Pistols: 17,001
— Revolvers: 1,525
— Rifles: 1,400
— Shotguns: 739
— Derringers: 82
— Machine guns: 40
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 39
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#8. Georgia
Aerial view of historic buildings in Macon.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 18.96
– Total firearms: 20,472
— Pistols: 16,327
— Revolvers: 1,457
— Rifles: 1,658
— Shotguns: 819
— Derringers: 100
— Machine guns: 46
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 65
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#7. New Mexico
Aerial view of downtown Albuquerque.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 19.44
– Total firearms: 4,114
— Pistols: 2,690
— Revolvers: 322
— Rifles: 629
— Shotguns: 284
— Derringers: 23
— Machine guns: 135
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 31
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#6. South Carolina
Aerial view of downtown Greenville.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 20.62
– Total firearms: 10,701
— Pistols: 8,333
— Revolvers: 907
— Rifles: 853
— Shotguns: 538
— Derringers: 59
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 11
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#5. Nevada
Aerial view of neon lights in Reno at night.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 21.42
– Total firearms: 6,735
— Pistols: 5,354
— Revolvers: 458
— Rifles: 501
— Shotguns: 305
— Derringers: 26
— Machine guns: 56
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 35
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#4. North Carolina
Aerial view of fog rolling over Asheville.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 21.90
– Total firearms: 23,104
— Pistols: 16,480
— Revolvers: 1,980
— Rifles: 2,694
— Shotguns: 1,585
— Derringers: 108
— Machine guns: 148
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 109
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#3. Tennessee
Aerial view of Gatlinburg.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 22.15
– Total firearms: 15,453
— Pistols: 12,045
— Revolvers: 1,260
— Rifles: 1,318
— Shotguns: 573
— Derringers: 86
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 132
— Other: 39
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#2. Louisiana
Aerial view of Baton Rouge skyline.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 29.73
– Total firearms: 13,745
— Pistols: 10,179
— Revolvers: 1,145
— Rifles: 1,582
— Shotguns: 749
— Derringers: 65
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 0
— Other: 25
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#1. Washington DC
Aerial view of D.C.
– Traced firearms per 10k residents: 35.18
– Total firearms: 2,357
— Pistols: 2,024
— Revolvers: 129
— Rifles: 90
— Shotguns: 43
— Derringers: 0
— Machine guns: 0
— Unknown types: 61
— Other: 10
