Gun dealers are major source of trafficked firearms

By: Amanda Watford

Outlets: Stateline

Published: December 2, 2025

Words: 538

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 1 day ago

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Licensed gun dealers are a major source of firearms that end up illegally trafficked, according to a new analysis using federal data by the research arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates for stricter gun laws.

Gun trafficking involves diverting guns from legal commerce into the illegal market, often through straw purchases, unlicensed dealing or other methods that bypass background checks and federal recordkeeping requirements.

A straw purchase is when someone who can …

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