ATF Reports Dramatic Wave Of Gun Store Thefts

posted on March 14, 2017

Speaking of gun trafficking: WJLA-Washington, D.C., reports that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) says 7,858 guns were stolen from licensed gun dealers in 2016, a rise of 76 percent in just 4 years.

In 2012, there were 377 gun store burglaries; in 2016, that number was 558. In addition, ATF reported 12 robberies of gun stores, versus 33 in 2016. A robbery differs from a burglary in that it involves threatening a human being, not simply breaking and entering with the intent to commit a crime.

Referring to the March 9 burglary of the United Gun Shop in Rockville, Md., ATF Special Agent Dave Cheplak said, “It’s obvious that the criminals in this particular case were not looking to simply add firearms to their own personal collections. These guns are destined to wind up on the streets of Baltimore and D.C. They’ll be traded for narcotics; they’ll be sold to anyone who’s willing to buy them." The burglars netted 31 firearms in less than 90 seconds.

Latest

Dean Cain
Dean Cain

Shooting Straight with Dean Cain

Dean Cain cares about our freedom, and he isn't the least bit aggrieved about any work he may have lost for being a vocal supporter of our rights.

10 Things the Mainstream Media Doesn't Want You To Know About Concealed Carry

The "mainstream" media likes to place the blame for violent crime on guns, not criminals. The truth about concealed carry, however, is very different from how man in the media frame in.

The Armed Citizen® March 24, 2023

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms.

Special Report: The NRA is Fighting Back

To undercut the Second Amendment, New York officials attacked the NRA's First Amendment rights. To stop this, the NRA has asked the U.S. Supreme Court for redress.

From the Editor: Maybe They Just Don't Understand

Hollywood does, in fact, have some social responsibility, but getting there just takes more thought than some of them can manage.

Did Biden Really Expand Background Checks?

Here's what President Biden's recent executive order actually does.

Interests



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.