PHILADELPHIA, PA, — Today, CeaseFirePA Education Fund & Brady released Unchecked, Unaccountable, Deadly: A handful of gun dealers are fueling Pennsylvania’s gun violence, a new report that finds a stunning number of guns used in crimes were purchased from just a very few number of dealers.
The report analyzes state and federal datasets on firearm sales, crime gun suppliers, and regulatory violations and suggests solutions to prevent the diversion of firearms into the criminal market. Among other statistics, the report highlights how of the 17,027 guns recovered from crimes by Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies in 2023 – the last year for which data are available. Over three-fourths of these guns came from gun dealers in the state, yet just 2 percent of Pennsylvania’s dealers – 61 of nearly 2,300 retail details – are flagged as high crime gun dealers by ATF. ATF identified high-crime dealers listed in the Demand 2 program if 25 or more low time-to-crime guns were traced to their store within a calendar year. Mathematically, this means a majority of crime games came from a small percentage of dealers.
The report notes that states with stronger laws regulating gun dealers have lower rates of guns flowing from the legal to illegal marketplace. As the Trump administration continues to weaken federal gun industry oversight — including moving to slash two-thirds of ATF inspectors responsible for inspections of gun dealers and divert ATF staff to President Trump’s immigration raids – the report details how Pennsylvania state and local law enforcement need to uniformly enforce Pennsylvania law on firearm sales, and should make up for the federal government’s inaction and routinely inspect dealers, issue appropriate citations, and revoke licenses when justified.
Further, the report lays out comprehensive recommendations for state lawmakers to strengthen the laws that govern Pennsylvania gun dealers by using existing and establishing new tools to enforce gun laws that prevent firearm trafficking. This includes:
- Utilizing existing gun dealer licensing to ensure oversight of dealers and enforcement of existing laws;
- Creating a more robust system of dealer licensing and oversight;
- Requiring secure storage and audio, video surveillance systems;
- Mandating recordkeeping and retention improvements; and
- including the option for law enforcement to fine and suspend licenses.
CeaseFirePA Executive Director Adam Garber said:
We hear again and again, enforce the laws on the books — that should include laws over licensed gun dealers. A few bad actors are supplying crime guns across the Commonwealth with deadly results. Today’s report is a reminder that a small percentage of gun dealers are supplying the majority of crime guns across the Commonwealth with deadly results. When it’s drugs, we say go after the supplier. In this case, gun dealers are licensed by the state. It’s time our leaders use that power to bring these bad actors up to the same standards the majority of dealers seemingly meet — and when they don’t, shut them down. This report makes it clear that there are flaws in the firearm supply chain and that the few bad actors can be better regulated so that everyone’s community is safer. Thank you Brady for bringing your national leadership and expertise to help stop the flow of crime guns in Pennsylvania.
Brady President Kris Brown said:
Gun violence survivors, victims’ families, and the networks that support them deserve to know that the dealers responsible for selling most of the guns terrorizing communities are being held accountable. This invaluable report by Brady and CeaseFire Pennsylvania makes clear the actions law enforcement and lawmakers in Pennsylvania can take to stem the flow of these weapons to those who seek to harm us and shift the burden of ending gun violence from communities to irresponsible gun dealers. So far, the Trump administration has made clear it has no interest in robust inspection and oversight over an industry that produces deadly weapons, so Pennsylvania leaders must lead by enforcing and strengthening the laws on dealer inspections and licensing, firearm storage and security, and recordkeeping. Pennsylvanians’ lives depend on it. Brady is thankful to CeaseFirePA Education Fund for their partnership in producing this report and elevating its message to leaders, elected officials, and community leaders.
Click here for the full report.
Brady and CeaseFire Pennsylvania experts are available for comment and interviews live, via phone, or Zoom. To be connected with an expert, please contact gcrews@bradyunited.org or ben@ceasefirepa.org.
