The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) released their “National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Gun Intelligence and Analysis: Volume Two.” The NFCTA is a complete assessment of firearms dealings in the United States and the “diversion of firearms to illegal markets.” Volume I, “Firearms in Commerce,” published in May 2022, focuses specifically on the regulated firearms industry.

According to the report, a crime gun is any firearm used or suspected to have been used in a crime. This NFCTA volume is the first all-inclusive report to include crime gun information from so many sources — collectively known as “Crime Gun Intelligence” — used by ATF in over twenty years.

Included in this volume is a review of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) and its provisions. A list of Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs) is included as well and is more detailed in the first volume. According to the report, GCA states that FFLs are required of those involved in the manufacturing or dealing of firearms in the United States. GCA also requires licensed firearms importers and manufacturers to engrave or cast serial numbers on their weapons, as well as other unique identifiers. These markings aid in solving and preventing firearm-related crimes.

Data used in this report consists of crime guns submitted to ATF for tracing and/or processed for ballistic and related evidence between 2017 and 2021. The report concludes with a disclaimer that includes the following: