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

4,399

 

Firearm Types with a Memphis, TN Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Pistols 3,317
Revolvers 484
Rifles 362
Shotguns 197
Derringers 18
Other* 21

* Other includes Machineguns, Receivers/Frames, Unknown Types, a Combination and a Flare Gun.

 

Top Calibers Reported on Firearm Traces ​with a Memphis, TN Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
9mm 1,523
.40 Cal 721
.380 Cal 398
.22 Cal 288
.38 Cal 238
.45 Cal 217
12GA 141

NOTE: There were 810 additional traces that were associated with other calibers.​ There were 63 traces with an unknown caliber.

 

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Memphis, TN Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Firearm Under Investigation 1,254
Weapon Offense 1,218
Simple Assault 653
Dangerous Drugs 395
Property Crimes 265
Homicide 172
Possession of Weapon 154
Robbery 115
Burglary 54
Found Firearm 21

NOTE: There were 98 additional traces that were associated with other categories.

 

Top Source States for Firearms with a Memphis, TN Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Tennessee 2,274
Mississippi 512
Arkansas 126
Texas 67
Alabama 41
Louisiana 39
Florida 38
Georgia 31
Missouri 25
Illinois 23
Indiana 20
Kentucky 18

NOTE: An additional 28 states accounted for 137 other traces. The source state was identified in 3,351 total traces.

 

Time-To-Crime Rates for Firearms​ with a Memphis, TN Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
Under 3 Months 283
3 Months to Under 7 Months 267
7 Months to Under 1 Year 243
1 Year to Under 2 Years 513
2 Years to Under 3 Years 361
3 Years and Over 1,658

1/1/2019-12/31/2019 Memphis, TN Average Time-to-Crime: 6.82 Years

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

 

Age of Possessors for Firearms with a Memphis, TN Recovery

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
17 and Under 154
18 to 21 452
22 to 24 375
25 to 30 727
31 to 40 625
41 to 50 287
Over 50 156

1/1/2019-12/31/2019 Memphis, TN Average Age of Possessor: 27 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 Memphis, TN. Traces in which the recovery city was not provided were included when the requesting agency was the Memphis 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 Memphis, TN Recovery

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

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Memphis, TN Recovery

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

Top Source States for Firearms with a Memphis, TN 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 Memphis, TN 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 Memphis, TN 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 Reviewed May 17, 2022