Fast Facts
eTrace assists law enforcement agencies in solving criminal cases by identifying gun traffickers, potential suspects, and patterns of violent gun crime.
eTrace enables criminal investigators to quickly track down the origin and purchaser of crime guns.
eTrace is used by local, state, tribal, federal and international law enforcement agencies to both enter and access firearms trace data.
When a firearm is found at a crime scene, it is critical for investigators to quickly track down the origin of the crime gun and any possible suspects. eTrace serves as a one-stop shop for comparing firearms data across multiple jurisdictions, helping agencies close cases faster. This web-based application allows authorized law enforcement agencies to submit trace requests of firearms used in crimes to ATF and retrieve detailed results such as the origin and original purchaser of the firearm.
Firearms tracing is the systematic tracking of a firearm from its point of introduction into U.S. commerce by a licensed manufacturer or importer, through the chain of distribution (which typically involves a wholesaler and one or more retailers), to then ultimately identify the last known individual retail purchaser.
eTrace is available in both English and Spanish and is key in generating investigative leads to help solve both domestic and international violent crimes. ATF provides eTrace access free of charge to authorized law enforcement agencies.
Trace requests can be initiated by authorized local, state, federal, tribal and international law enforcement agencies. The trace results provide information to law enforcement agencies quickly identify potential firearms traffickers and suspects in criminal investigations. Additionally, participating law enforcement agencies have the option to share firearms trace data with other eTrace users who also choose to share their data, allowing users to identify patterns of violent crime across different jurisdictions.
Note: ATF is the only federal agency authorized to trace firearms; however, ATF's authorization is only to trace firearms for law enforcement agencies involved in bona fide criminal investigations. eTrace is not a registry of firearms or repository of sales information.
The Numbers
Nearly 655,000
firearms trace requests were reviewed, analyzed, and processed by the National Tracing Center in fiscal year 2025.
10,500+
law enforcement agencies law enforcement agencies partner with ATF to submit firearm trace requests through the eTrace system.
56
law enforcement agencies in 52 countries partner with ATF in tracing firearms through eTrace.
Combating Violent Crime
As the primary investigatory tool of ATF’s National Tracing Center (NTC), eTrace is part of the broader ATF mission to arrest violent offenders and firearm traffickers.
eTrace streamlines the investigative process:
- Robust statistical reports that readily generate new investigative leads
- Faster processing of firearms trace history
- Targeted trace data relevant to a specific state or local jurisdiction
- Real-time data verification and case updates
The eTrace system allows law enforcement agencies to conduct comprehensive traces of recovered crime guns and establish leads in their investigations. Search functions and statistical reports help detect potential suspects, gun traffickers, and patterns of violent gun crime. The system also allows agencies to strategize long-term on how best to reduce firearms-related crime, firearms trafficking and violence in their communities.
eTrace DIRECT
The eTrace DIRECT Application Programming Interface (API) is an automated tracing solution that allows law enforcement agencies to electronically submit and retrieve firearm trace-related data using system-to-system communication between their Records/Case Management System (RMS) and the National Tracing Center. eTrace DIRECT integration eliminates the need for manual and redundant entry of trace requests, monitoring and retrieval of trace results, and improves timeliness and data quality. Contact eTraceDIRECT@atf.gov to learn more.
