Firearms tracing is the systematic tracking
of the movement of a firearm recovered by
law enforcement officials from its first sale
by the manufacturer or importer through the
distribution chain (wholesaler/retailer) to the
first retail purchaser.
Why Trace Firearms?
To link a suspect to a firearm in a criminal investigation;
To identify potential traffickers, whether licensed or unlicensed sellers; and
When sufficiently comprehensive tracing is undertaken by a given community, to detect in-state, interstate, and international patterns in the sources and kinds of crime guns.