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Firearms Trace Data: Los Angeles, CA - 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 Los Angeles, CA in Calendar Year 2019
  3. Table: Firearm Types with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery
  4. Table: Top Calibers/Types Reported on Firearm Traces with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery
  5. Table: Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery
  6. Table: Top Source States for Firearms​ with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery
  7. Table: Time-To-Crime Rates for Firearms​ with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery
  8. Table: Age of Possessors for Firearms​ with a Los Angeles, CA 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 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 Los Angeles, CA in Calendar Year 2019

6,153

Firearm Types with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Pistols

3,846

Revolvers

1,008

Rifles

785

Shotguns

391

Other*

123

* Other includes Derringers, Machineguns, Unknown Types, Receivers/Frames, Combinations and Any Other Weapons.

Top Calibers/Types Reported on Firearm Traces ​with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
9mm Pistol

1,801

.40 Cal Pistol

631

.38 Cal Revolver

451

.45 Cal Pistol

417

.380 Cal Pistol

363

12GA Shotgun

323

.357 Cal Revolver

235

.22 Cal Pistol

230

.22 Cal Rifle

206

.22 Cal Revolver

175

NOTE: There were 1,123 additional traces that were associated with other calibers/types.​ There were 198 traces with an unknown caliber.

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Possession of Weapon

3,909

Found Firearm

575

Dangerous Drugs

299

Health - Safety

168

Property Crimes

151

Aggravated Assault

144

Simple Assault

106

Robbery

103

Weapon Offense

100

Threat

98

Homicide

91

NOTE: There were 409 additional traces that were associated with other categories.

Top Source States for Firearms with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
California

2,168

Arizona

492

Nevada

366

Colorado

148

Texas

116

Utah

58

Georgia

54

Oregon

48

Washington

48

Florida

41

NOTE: An additional 38 states accounted for 542 other traces. The source state was identified in 4,081 total traces.

Time-To-Crime Rates for Firearms​ with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery

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

156

3 Months to Under 7 Months

196

7 Months to Under 1 Year

210

1 Year to Under 2 Years

554

2 Years to Under 3 Years

382

3 Years and Over

2,556

1/1/2019-12/31/2019 Los Angeles, CA Average Time-to-Crime: 10.95 Years

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

Age of Possessors for Firearms with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery

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

165

18 to 21

450

22 to 24

478

25 to 30

1,095

31 to 40

1,037

41 to 50

685

Over 50

1,044

1/1/2019-12/31/2019 Los Angeles, CA Average Age of Possessor: 37 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 Los Angeles, CA or cities that are within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department. Traces in which the recovery city was not provided were included when the requesting agency was the Los Angeles 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 June 22, 2021.​
  • All traces may not have been submitted or completed at the time of this study.​

Firearm Types and Top Calibers/Types with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery

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

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Los Angeles, CA Recovery

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

Top Source States for Firearms with a Los Angeles, CA 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 Los Angeles, CA 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 Los Angeles, CA 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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