Firearms Trace Data: Michigan - 2020

Data Source: Firearms Tracing System

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020

 

Contents

  1. ATF Firearms Trace Data Disclaimer
  2. Table: Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced in Michigan in Calendar Year 2020
  3. Table: Firearm Types with a Michigan Recovery
  4. Table: Top Calibers Reported on Firearm Traces with a Michigan Recovery
  5. Table: Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Michigan Recovery
  6. Table: Top 15 Source States for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery
  7. Table: Time-To-Crime Rates for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery
  8. Table: Age of Possessors for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery
  9. Table: Top Recovery Cities for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery
  10. 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 Michigan in Calendar Year 2020

11,423

 

Firearm Types with a Michigan Recovery

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Pistols 8,925
Rifles 1,128
Revolvers 744
Shotguns 497
Receivers/Frames 60
Derringers 42
Other* 27

* Other includes Machineguns, Unknown Types, Destructive Devices and Silencers.

 

Top Calibers Reported on Firearm Traces with a Michigan Recovery

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
9mm 4,944
.40 Cal 1,547
.45 Cal 818
.380 Cal 703
.22 Cal 667
12GA 372
.38 Cal 360
7.62mm 329
5.56mm 285
.357 Cal 170

NOTE: There were 1,108 additional traces that were associated with other calibers. There were 120 traces with an unknown caliber.

 

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Michigan Recovery

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Carrying Concealed Weapon 5,013
Aggravated Assault 1,071
Possession of Weapon 1,019
Found Firearm 868
Dangerous Drugs 668
Firearm Under Investigation 594
Homicide 320
Weapon Offense 257
Selling Weapon 217
Health - Safety 201

NOTE: There were 1,195 additional traces that were associated with other categories.

 

Top 15 Source States for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Michigan 7,686
Ohio 292
Kentucky 183
West Virginia 177
Tennessee 149
Indiana 147
Georgia 110
Texas 96
Florida 83
Alabama 73
Mississippi 52
Virginia 39
South Carolina 33
North Carolina 32
Pennsylvania 32

NOTE: An additional 32 states and Puerto Rico accounted for 320 other traces. The source state was identified in 9,504 total traces.

 

Time-To-Crime Rates for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Under 3 Months 2,528
3 Months to Under 7 Months 1,357
7 Months to Under 1 Year 537
1 Year to Under 2 Years 761
2 Years to Under 3 Years 617
3 Years and Over 3,606

1/1/2020-12/31/2020 Michigan Average Time-to-Crime: 5.21 Years

1/1/2020-12/31/2020 National Average Time-to-Crime: 7.01 Years

 

Age of Possessors for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
17 and Under 211
18 to 21 1,483
22 to 24 1,481
25 to 30 2,478
31 to 40 1,611
41 to 50 779
Over 50 801

1/1/2020-12/31/2020 Michigan Average Age of Possessor: 32 Years

1/1/2020-12/31/2020 National Average Age of Possessor: 34 Years

 

Top Recovery Cities for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Detroit 6,983
Flint 854
Pontiac 361
Grand Rapids 308
Saginaw 292
Lansing 194
Inkster 150
Battle Creek 144
Jackson 139
Southfield 139

NOTE: There were 267 additional municipalities that accounted for 1,853 other traces. The recovery city could not be determined for six traces.

 

Analytical Criteria Used to Compile the Enclosed Statistics

Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced

  • Includes traces with a recovery state of Michigan. Traces in which the recovery state was not provided were included when the requesting agency state was equal to Michigan.
  • Includes Firearms Recovered and Traced between 1/1/2020 – 12/31/2020 or, if the recovery date was blank, firearms with trace entry dates between 1/1/2020 – 12/31/2020.
  • 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 12, 2021.
  • All traces may not have been submitted or completed at the time of this study.

Firearm Types and Calibers with a Michigan Recovery

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

Top Categories Reported on Firearm Traces with a Michigan Recovery

  • Includes same criteria as Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced. Beginning in CY 2010, attempted homicide, attempted suicide and negligent vehicular manslaughter are reported in separate categories.

Top Source States for Firearms with a Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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.

Top Recovery Cities for Firearms with a Michigan Recovery

  • Includes same criteria as Total Number of Firearms Recovered and Traced.
  • Includes traces with a recovery city or, if the recovery city was not provided, traces requested by agencies with jurisdiction only within that city.

 

View All 2020 Firearms Trace Data

Last Reviewed November 22, 2021