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Firearms Trace Data: Detroit, MI - 2019

Data Source: Firearms Tracing System

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019

Contents

  1. ATF Firearms Trace Data Disclaimer
  2. Table: Total Number of Firearms Recovered and ​Traced in Detroit, MI in Calendar Year 2019
  3. Table: Firearm Types with a Detroit, MI Recovery
  4. Table: Top Calibers Reported on Firearm Traces with a Detroit, MI Recovery
  5. Table: Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Detroit, MI Recovery
  6. Table: Top Source States for Firearms​ with a Detroit, MI Recovery
  7. Table: Time-To-Crime Rates for Firearms​ with a Detroit, MI Recovery
  8. Table: Age of Possessors for Firearms​ with a Detroit, MI Recovery
  9. Analytical Criteria Used to Compile the Enclosed Statistics

ATF Firearms Trace Data Disclaimer

Firearm traces are designed to assist law enforcement authorities in conducting investigations by tracking the sale and possession of specific firearms. Law enforcement agencies may request firearms traces for any investigative reason, and those reasons are not necessarily reported to the federal government. Not all firearms used in crime are traced and not all firearms traced are used in crime.

Firearms selected for tracing are not chosen for purposes of determining which types, makes or models of firearms are used for illicit purposes. The firearms selected do not constitute a random sample and should not be considered representative of the larger universe of all firearms used by criminals, or any subset of that universe. Firearms are normally traced to the first retail seller, and sources reported for firearms traced do not necessarily represent the sources or methods by which firearms in general are acquired for use in crime.

Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced in Detroit, MI in Calendar Year 2019

4,103

Firearm Types with a Detroit, MI Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Pistols

2,942

Revolvers

470

Rifles

363

Shotguns

273

Machineguns

20

Derringers

18

Unknown Types

14

Other*

3

* Other includes a Combination, a Destructive Device and a Flare Gun.

Top Calibers Reported on Firearm Traces ​with a Detroit, MI Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
9mm

1,317

.40 Cal

680

.380 Cal

319

.45 Cal

279

.22 Cal

248

.38 Cal

242

12GA

210

7.62mm

114

NOTE: There were 632 additional traces that were associated with other calibers.​ There were 62 traces with an unknown caliber.

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Detroit, MI Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Carrying Concealed Weapon

1,366

Aggravated Assault

577

Dangerous Drugs

433

Found Firearm

405

Possession of Weapon

277

Homicide

211

Health - Safety

191

Firearm Under Investigation

140

Weapon Offense

73

Suicide

63

NOTE: There were 367 additional traces that were associated with other categories.

Top Source States for Firearms with a Detroit, MI Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Michigan

2,417

Kentucky

138

Ohio

134

West Virginia

84

Tennessee

70

Alabama

43

Georgia

40

Indiana

33

Florida

25

Texas

22

Pennsylvania

17

Illinois

16

Mississippi

15

Louisiana

12

North Carolina

11

NOTE: An additional 29 states and Puerto Rico accounted for 108 other traces. The source state was identified in 3,185 total traces.

Time-To-Crime Rates for Firearms​ with a Detroit, MI Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Under 3 Months

281

3 Months to Under 7 Months

199

7 Months to Under 1 Year

222

1 Year to Under 2 Years

377

2 Years to Under 3 Years

305

3 Years and Over

1,798

1/1/2019-12/31/2019 Detroit, MI Average Time-to-Crime: 8.29 Years

1/1/2019-12/31/2019 National Average Time-to-Crime: 8.29 Years

Age of Possessors for Firearms with a Detroit, MI Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
17 and Under

106

18 to 21

393

22 to 24

418

25 to 30

820

31 to 40

662

41 to 50

461

Over 50

352

1/1/2019-12/31/2019 Detroit, MI Average Age of Possessor: 34 Years

1/1/2019-12/31/2019 National Average Age of Possessor: 35 Years

Analytical Criteria Used to Compile the Enclosed Statistics

Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced

  • Includes traces with a recovery city of Detroit, MI. Traces in which the recovery city was not provided were included when the requesting agency was the Detroit Police Department.
  • Includes Firearms Recovered and Traced between 1/1/2019 – 12/31/2019 or, if the recovery date was blank, firearms with trace entry dates between 1/1/2019 – 12/31/2019.
  • Duplicate traces, Firearms Not Recovered, Gun Buyback and Firearms Turned In are not included in this figure.​
  • Data was extracted from the Firearms Tracing System (FTS) on April 10, 2020.​
  • All traces may not have been submitted or completed at the time of this study.​

Firearm Types and Calibers with a Detroit, MI Recovery

  • Includes same criteria as Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced.

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Detroit, MI Recovery

  • Includes same criteria as Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced.

Top Source States for Firearms with a Detroit, MI Recovery​

  • Includes same criteria as Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced.
  • Traces must identify a purchaser and the state in which the final dealer is located.

Time-to-Crime Rates for Firearms with a Detroit, MI Recovery

  • Includes same criteria as Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced.
  • Traces must identify a purchaser.
  • Time-to-Crime was calculated for those traces in which the purchase date could be subtracted ​from the recovery date.

Age of Possessors for Firearms with a Detroit, MI Recovery

  • Includes same criteria as Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced.
  • Includes traces that provide a possessor and the possessor’s date of birth.
  • Possessor’s age is calculated by subtracting the possessor’s date of birth from the recovery date.

 

View All 2019 Firearms Trace Data

Last updated
May 17, 2022

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