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“THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ATF FIREARMS TRACE STUDY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S9102 on June 26, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ATF FIREARMS TRACE STUDY
Mr. SIMON. Madam President, I would like to draw my colleagues' attention to a recent report released by the southern California field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
[BATF]. This report details a firearms trace study conducted on firearms found in crime scenes in southern California. The BATF's objective in conducting this study was to help determine the source of crime guns and suggest practices to counter the threat posed by illicit traffic in firearms. The results of the study provide evidence that many firearms used in crimes come from licensed firearms dealers. The results also reveal the problems of interstate trafficking in firearms, and the need for uniform, national firearms regulations.
The report, titled ``Sources of Crime guns in Southern California'' describes the results of a firearms trace study in which special agents and intelligence analysts reviewed police reports and submitted trace requests for 1,764 guns recovered by selected law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties between January 1, 1994 and November 10, 1994.
The results of the study raise serious questions about some of the rhetoric used to oppose firearms regulations. Last year, as I worked to tighten licensing requirements for Federal firearms dealers, many who opposed my proposals claimed that licensed gun dealers are not the source of guns used in crimes. This report shows that, at least in southern California, that is just not true. The ATF report outlined six sources of the guns recovered from crime scenes. By far the largest source was licensed gun dealers: Commercial gun dealers accounted for 80 percent of the guns recovered.
According to the study, many significant gun trafficking cases involved at-home dealers who purchased large quantities of firearms from distributors, then resold them without paperwork. Recent legislation, from the Brady law to my gun dealer licensing reforms in last year's crime bill, has begun to address the serious lack of oversight on licensed gun dealers. As a result of my reforms, Federal firearms licenses now require a photograph and fingerprints, dealers are required to comply with State and local laws, and the ATF now has 60 days, instead of 45, to investigate before granting a license. Additional reforms raised the licensing fee from a mere $30 to $200. In fact, several recent cases have led to prosecution and conviction on felony licensing and recordkeeping violations.
The report also shows the problems with interstate trafficking of firearms, and provides yet another argument in favor of national firearms regulations. Many of the guns recovered from crime scenes in southern California were traced to dealers in neighboring States with less stringent regulations: 30 percent of the guns included in the study were traced to dealers in 40 States other than California. Arizona and Nevada comprised 25 percent of the out-of-State purchases.
California is a State with strong gun trafficking laws. All gun transfers, including those involving private parties, must go through a dealer and be approved by the California Department of Justice. Prospective purchasers of handguns and long guns are screened during a 15-day waiting period and approved buyers are perpetually recorded in a computer database. California forbids the possession of certain assault weapons and forbids felons from possessing any type of firearm whatsoever.
By comparison, the laws of surrounding States, such as Nevada and Arizona, are highly permissive. Neither State imposes any restrictions other than the minimum Brady Bill requirements. Long gun sales and private transactions are not regulated and there is no central registry of handgun sales.
I would like to commend the ATF for conducting this important firearms trace study. The results of their report should help to inform the debate on gun control legislation.
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