Understanding the Characteristics of Guns Recovered From Gang Members and Non-Gang Members Through eTrace Data

This study utilizes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive (ATF) eTrace data provided by the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit of Phoenix Police Department to examine firearms recovered from January 2016 to September 2019. The purpose of the study is to examine how firearm characteristics differ between gang members and non-gang members with the intent of identifying the types of firearms to target in a supply-side enforcement approach towards reducing gun violence. Specifically, this study examines the type of dealer the firearm was sold from, the state from which the original purchase of the firearm was traced to, the quality of the firearm as determined by its manufacturer, and the age of the firearm as determined by the number of days between its first original purchase and its recovery by law enforcement. Findings indicate that the odds of a firearm being recovered from a gang member significantly decreases when the firearm is older than three years and has a medium-sized caliber.