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More guns are now trafficked to criminals through online sources such as Facebook, TikTok and Tinder than are trafficked at gun shows or flea markets, according to new Justice Department data that argues the marketplace for illegally obtained weapons is quickly evolving.
The report studied more than 8,000 gun trafficking cases from 2017 through 2021. Researchers found the most common source was a private person-to-person sale that didn’t go through a background check or a straw purchase to obtain a gun for someone prohibited.
Stolen weapons were the third most common factor, though online-orchestrated sales and “ghost” guns — untraceable firearms manufactured outside the official industry — were quickly growing as a source, according to the data compiled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“This report makes clear that black-market guns sold by unlicensed dealers without a background check are increasingly being found at crime scenes,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said.
By Stephen Dinan