Most guns are held by law-abiding citizens. Still, areas with more guns also often have more gun-related crime. Population size and density are also major factors in the number of gun-related crimes. The bigger the city, the more legal or illegally-obtained guns move around inside them and the more crime is linked to guns. (These are states where gun deaths are increasing fastest.)
The United States leads the world by a very long shot in the number of guns that have proliferated into the civilian population. According to the 2018 Small Arms Survey by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, the U.S. has nearly 400 million civilian-held firearms.
An important metric for comparing the prevalence of guns used in criminal activity is tracing data collected by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Guns that are traced by the ATF are typically those found at crime scenes. These guns have either been used, or are suspected to have been used, to commit a crime. While not all firearms used in crimes are traced, the ATF’s gun-tracing data serves as the most accurate comparison of gun-related crimes across U.S. cities and states.
To identify the three cities in each state where the most guns are linked to crime, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed ATF data. For each state, we identified the three cities or towns in which the ATF traced the most firearms. (Also see, 24 states where gun-related crimes are surging.)
In 2021, New York City, the country’s most populous city, reported 5,150 traced guns among 8.8 million residents, representing half of all gun traces in the state that year. New York state has among the strictest gun control laws in the country.
By comparison, the fourth most-populous city in the country, Houston, reported 11,600 traced guns in 2021 out of a population of 2.3 million. Texas is among the states with the least restrictive gun control laws in the country.
Houston also demonstrates how urban density matters. Though the city’s population accounts for less than 8% of the state’s total population, over 25% of guns traced in Texas were traced in Houston.
Other cities where the most guns are linked to crime are inevitably the largest cities in their respective states. Nine out of the 10 largest cities in the country — home to about 8% of the country’s population — have the highest number of traced guns in their state, including the three largest cities in Texas: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. These three cities reported 21,449 traced guns in 2021, compared to the 22,770 traced guns discovered in the country’s top three most populated cities: New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
In less populous states with smaller urban centers, even the largest cities have relatively few guns traced compared to metro areas in more populous states. For example, only 30 guns – the most in the state – were traced in Honolulu, Hawaii’s largest city. This is the case in other states where even the largest cities are relatively small with low population densities such as Vermont, Maine, and Wyoming.
Here are the cities in every state with the most guns linked to crimes.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Alabama
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Mobile; 1,694 guns traced in 2021
> Mobile population and gun tracing comparison: 3.8% of state pop.; 19.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Huntsville; 1,506 guns traced in 2021
> Huntsville population and gun tracing comparison: 4.2% of state pop.; 17.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Tuscaloosa; 631 guns traced in 2021
> Tuscaloosa population and gun tracing comparison: 2.0% of state pop.; 7.1% of statewide gun tracings
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Alaska
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Anchorage; 386 guns traced in 2021
> Anchorage population and gun tracing comparison: 39.8% of state pop.; 48.4% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Fairbanks; 52 guns traced in 2021
> Fairbanks population and gun tracing comparison: 4.5% of state pop.; 6.5% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Juneau; 43 guns traced in 2021
> Juneau population and gun tracing comparison: 4.4% of state pop.; 5.4% of statewide gun tracings
Arizona
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Phoenix; 4,317 guns traced in 2021
> Phoenix population and gun tracing comparison: 22.5% of state pop.; 35.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Tucson; 1,946 guns traced in 2021
> Tucson population and gun tracing comparison: 7.6% of state pop.; 16.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Glendale; 1,093 guns traced in 2021
> Glendale population and gun tracing comparison: 3.5% of state pop.; 9.0% of statewide gun tracings
Arkansas
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Little Rock; 1,088 guns traced in 2021
> Little Rock population and gun tracing comparison: 6.7% of state pop.; 30.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: North Little Rock; 413 guns traced in 2021
> North Little Rock population and gun tracing comparison: 2.1% of state pop.; 11.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Jonesboro; 361 guns traced in 2021
> Jonesboro population and gun tracing comparison: 2.6% of state pop.; 10.2% of statewide gun tracings
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California
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Los Angeles; 8,036 guns traced in 2021
> Los Angeles population and gun tracing comparison: 9.9% of state pop.; 14.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Sacramento; 2,246 guns traced in 2021
> Sacramento population and gun tracing comparison: 1.3% of state pop.; 4.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: San Diego; 1,463 guns traced in 2021
> San Diego population and gun tracing comparison: 3.5% of state pop.; 2.7% of statewide gun tracings
Colorado
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Denver; 1,854 guns traced in 2021
> Denver population and gun tracing comparison: 12.3% of state pop.; 26.3% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Colorado Springs; 1,426 guns traced in 2021
> Colorado Springs population and gun tracing comparison: 8.3% of state pop.; 20.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Pueblo; 516 guns traced in 2021
> Pueblo population and gun tracing comparison: 1.9% of state pop.; 7.3% of statewide gun tracings
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Connecticut
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Hartford; 349 guns traced in 2021
> Hartford population and gun tracing comparison: 3.4% of state pop.; 21.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: New Haven; 311 guns traced in 2021
> New Haven population and gun tracing comparison: 3.7% of state pop.; 19.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Waterbury; 176 guns traced in 2021
> Waterbury population and gun tracing comparison: 3.2% of state pop.; 10.9% of statewide gun tracings
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Delaware
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Wilmington; 524 guns traced in 2021
> Wilmington population and gun tracing comparison: 7.2% of state pop.; 31.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Dover; 187 guns traced in 2021
> Dover population and gun tracing comparison: 4.0% of state pop.; 11.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: New Castle; 161 guns traced in 2021
> New Castle population and gun tracing comparison: 0.6% of state pop.; 9.6% of statewide gun tracings
Florida
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Jacksonville; 3,197 guns traced in 2021
> Jacksonville population and gun tracing comparison: 4.4% of state pop.; 9.3% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Miami; 3,016 guns traced in 2021
> Miami population and gun tracing comparison: 2.1% of state pop.; 8.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Orlando; 2,455 guns traced in 2021
> Orlando population and gun tracing comparison: 1.4% of state pop.; 7.1% of statewide gun tracings
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Georgia
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Atlanta; 4,083 guns traced in 2021
> Atlanta population and gun tracing comparison: 4.6% of state pop.; 20.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Augusta; 959 guns traced in 2021
> Augusta population and gun tracing comparison: 1.9% of state pop.; 4.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Macon; 913 guns traced in 2021
> Macon population and gun tracing comparison: 1.5% of state pop.; 4.5% of statewide gun tracings
Hawaii
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Honolulu; 30 guns traced in 2021
> Honolulu population and gun tracing comparison: 24.2% of state pop.; 26.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Lihue; 22 guns traced in 2021
> Lihue population and gun tracing comparison: 0.6% of state pop.; 19.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Mountain View; 15 guns traced in 2021
> Mountain View population and gun tracing comparison: 0.2% of state pop.; 13.0% of statewide gun tracings
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Idaho
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Boise; 338 guns traced in 2021
> Boise population and gun tracing comparison: 12.8% of state pop.; 24.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Idaho Falls; 103 guns traced in 2021
> Idaho Falls population and gun tracing comparison: 3.6% of state pop.; 7.5% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Meridian; 99 guns traced in 2021
> Meridian population and gun tracing comparison: 6.4% of state pop.; 7.2% of statewide gun tracings
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Illinois
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Chicago; 9,584 guns traced in 2021
> Chicago population and gun tracing comparison: 21.4% of state pop.; 50.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Rockford; 495 guns traced in 2021
> Rockford population and gun tracing comparison: 1.2% of state pop.; 2.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Springfield; 450 guns traced in 2021
> Springfield population and gun tracing comparison: 0.9% of state pop.; 2.3% of statewide gun tracings
Indiana
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Indianapolis; 4,629 guns traced in 2021
> Indianapolis population and gun tracing comparison: 13.0% of state pop.; 44.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Fort Wayne; 900 guns traced in 2021
> Fort Wayne population and gun tracing comparison: 3.9% of state pop.; 8.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: South Bend; 659 guns traced in 2021
> South Bend population and gun tracing comparison: 1.5% of state pop.; 6.4% of statewide gun tracings
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Iowa
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Des Moines; 596 guns traced in 2021
> Des Moines population and gun tracing comparison: 6.7% of state pop.; 23.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Davenport; 306 guns traced in 2021
> Davenport population and gun tracing comparison: 3.2% of state pop.; 11.9% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Cedar Rapids; 252 guns traced in 2021
> Cedar Rapids population and gun tracing comparison: 4.3% of state pop.; 9.8% of statewide gun tracings
Kansas
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Wichita; 1,718 guns traced in 2021
> Wichita population and gun tracing comparison: 13.5% of state pop.; 40.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Kansas City; 648 guns traced in 2021
> Kansas City population and gun tracing comparison: 5.3% of state pop.; 15.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Topeka; 575 guns traced in 2021
> Topeka population and gun tracing comparison: 4.3% of state pop.; 13.4% of statewide gun tracings
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Kentucky
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Louisville; 2,977 guns traced in 2021
> Louisville population and gun tracing comparison: 14.0% of state pop.; 43.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Lexington; 998 guns traced in 2021
> Lexington population and gun tracing comparison: 7.2% of state pop.; 14.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Boaz; 390 guns traced in 2021
> Boaz (Graves County) population and gun tracing comparison: 0.8% of state pop.; 5.7% of statewide gun tracings
Louisiana
> City with the most guns linked to crime: New Orleans; 2,017 guns traced in 2021
> New Orleans population and gun tracing comparison: 8.2% of state pop.; 14.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Baton Rouge; 1,961 guns traced in 2021
> Baton Rouge population and gun tracing comparison: 4.8% of state pop.; 14.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Shreveport; 1,433 guns traced in 2021
> Shreveport population and gun tracing comparison: 4.1% of state pop.; 10.4% of statewide gun tracings
Maine
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Portland; 91 guns traced in 2021
> Portland population and gun tracing comparison: 5.0% of state pop.; 17.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Cherryfield; 37 guns traced in 2021
> Cherryfield (Washington County) population and gun tracing comparison: 2.3% of state pop.; 7.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Whitefield; 32 guns traced in 2021
> Whitefield (Lincoln County) population and gun tracing comparison: 2.6% of state pop.; 6.2% of statewide gun tracings
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Maryland
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Baltimore; 2,631 guns traced in 2021
> Baltimore population and gun tracing comparison: 9.6% of state pop.; 26.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Frederick; 308 guns traced in 2021
> Frederick population and gun tracing comparison: 1.2% of state pop.; 3.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Silver Spring; 305 guns traced in 2021
> Silver Spring population and gun tracing comparison: 1.3% of state pop.; 3.1% of statewide gun tracings
Massachusetts
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Boston; 888 guns traced in 2021
> Boston population and gun tracing comparison: 9.6% of state pop.; 27.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Springfield; 329 guns traced in 2021
> Springfield population and gun tracing comparison: 2.2% of state pop.; 10.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Worcester; 162 guns traced in 2021
> Worcester population and gun tracing comparison: 2.9% of state pop.; 5.0% of statewide gun tracings
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Michigan
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Detroit; 7,644 guns traced in 2021
> Detroit population and gun tracing comparison: 6.4% of state pop.; 62.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Flint; 677 guns traced in 2021
> Flint population and gun tracing comparison: 0.8% of state pop.; 5.5% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Grand Rapids; 482 guns traced in 2021
> Grand Rapids population and gun tracing comparison: 2.0% of state pop.; 3.9% of statewide gun tracings
Minnesota
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Minneapolis; 1,183 guns traced in 2021
> Minneapolis population and gun tracing comparison: 7.5% of state pop.; 25.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Saint Paul; 702 guns traced in 2021
> Saint Paul population and gun tracing comparison: 5.5% of state pop.; 15.3% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Brooklyn Park; 177 guns traced in 2021
> Brooklyn Park population and gun tracing comparison: 1.5% of state pop.; 3.8% of statewide gun tracings
Mississippi
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Gulfport; 533 guns traced in 2021
> Gulfport population and gun tracing comparison: 2.4% of state pop.; 11.3% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Hattiesburg; 367 guns traced in 2021
> Hattiesburg population and gun tracing comparison: 1.6% of state pop.; 7.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Southaven; 250 guns traced in 2021
> Southaven population and gun tracing comparison: 1.8% of state pop.; 5.3% of statewide gun tracings
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Missouri
> City with the most guns linked to crime: St. Louis; 3,378 guns traced in 2021
> St. Louis population and gun tracing comparison: 4.9% of state pop.; 33.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Kansas City; 2,422 guns traced in 2021
> Kansas City population and gun tracing comparison: 8.2% of state pop.; 23.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Florissant; 491 guns traced in 2021
> Florissant population and gun tracing comparison: 0.9% of state pop.; 4.8% of statewide gun tracings
Montana
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Billings; 286 guns traced in 2021
> Billings population and gun tracing comparison: 10.7% of state pop.; 24.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Helena; 176 guns traced in 2021
> Helena population and gun tracing comparison: 3.0% of state pop.; 14.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Missoula; 151 guns traced in 2021
> Missoula population and gun tracing comparison: 6.8% of state pop.; 12.7% of statewide gun tracings
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Nebraska
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Omaha; 1,272 guns traced in 2021
> Omaha population and gun tracing comparison: 25.0% of state pop.; 56.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Lincoln; 210 guns traced in 2021
> Lincoln population and gun tracing comparison: 14.8% of state pop.; 9.4% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Ewing; 111 guns traced in 2021
> Ewing population and gun tracing comparison: 0.0% of state pop.; 5.0% of statewide gun tracings
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Nevada
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Las Vegas; 5,110 guns traced in 2021
> Las Vegas population and gun tracing comparison: 20.7% of state pop.; 75.9% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Henderson; 452 guns traced in 2021
> Henderson population and gun tracing comparison: 10.2% of state pop.; 6.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: North Las Vegas; 378 guns traced in 2021
> North Las Vegas population and gun tracing comparison: 8.5% of state pop.; 5.6% of statewide gun tracings
New Hampshire
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Manchester; 385 guns traced in 2021
> Manchester population and gun tracing comparison: 8.4% of state pop.; 54.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Keene; 37 guns traced in 2021
> Keene population and gun tracing comparison: 1.7% of state pop.; 5.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Nashua; 34 guns traced in 2021
> Nashua population and gun tracing comparison: 6.6% of state pop.; 4.8% of statewide gun tracings
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New Jersey
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Newark; 570 guns traced in 2021
> Newark population and gun tracing comparison: 3.3% of state pop.; 12.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Camden; 365 guns traced in 2021
> Camden population and gun tracing comparison: 0.8% of state pop.; 7.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Trenton; 319 guns traced in 2021
> Trenton population and gun tracing comparison: 1.0% of state pop.; 6.8% of statewide gun tracings
New Mexico
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Albuquerque; 2,418 guns traced in 2021
> Albuquerque population and gun tracing comparison: 26.7% of state pop.; 58.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Roswell; 410 guns traced in 2021
> Roswell population and gun tracing comparison: 2.3% of state pop.; 10.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Hobbs; 189 guns traced in 2021
> Hobbs population and gun tracing comparison: 1.9% of state pop.; 4.6% of statewide gun tracings
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New York
> City with the most guns linked to crime: New York City; 5,150 guns traced in 2021
> New York City population and gun tracing comparison: 43.4% of state pop.; 50.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Buffalo; 779 guns traced in 2021
> Buffalo population and gun tracing comparison: 1.4% of state pop.; 7.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Rochester; 730 guns traced in 2021
> Rochester population and gun tracing comparison: 1.0% of state pop.; 7.1% of statewide gun tracings
North Carolina
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Charlotte; 3,837 guns traced in 2021
> Charlotte population and gun tracing comparison: 8.3% of state pop.; 16.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Greensboro; 1,787 guns traced in 2021
> Greensboro population and gun tracing comparison: 2.9% of state pop.; 7.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Winston-Salem; 1,398 guns traced in 2021
> Winston-Salem population and gun tracing comparison: 2.4% of state pop.; 6.1% of statewide gun tracings
North Dakota
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Fargo; 189 guns traced in 2021
> Fargo population and gun tracing comparison: 16.2% of state pop.; 24.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Minot; 114 guns traced in 2021
> Minot population and gun tracing comparison: 6.2% of state pop.; 14.9% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Williston; 111 guns traced in 2021
> Williston population and gun tracing comparison: 3.5% of state pop.; 14.5% of statewide gun tracings
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Ohio
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Columbus; 3,763 guns traced in 2021
> Columbus population and gun tracing comparison: 7.6% of state pop.; 18.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Cleveland; 2,647 guns traced in 2021
> Cleveland population and gun tracing comparison: 3.2% of state pop.; 12.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Cincinnati; 2,343 guns traced in 2021
> Cincinnati population and gun tracing comparison: 2.6% of state pop.; 11.3% of statewide gun tracings
Oklahoma
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Tulsa; 2,054 guns traced in 2021
> Tulsa population and gun tracing comparison: 10.4% of state pop.; 38.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Oklahoma City; 1,794 guns traced in 2021
> Oklahoma City population and gun tracing comparison: 17.1% of state pop.; 33.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Moore; 185 guns traced in 2021
> Moore population and gun tracing comparison: 1.6% of state pop.; 3.5% of statewide gun tracings
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Oregon
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Portland; 1,339 guns traced in 2021
> Portland population and gun tracing comparison: 15.4% of state pop.; 24.5% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Salem; 356 guns traced in 2021
> Salem population and gun tracing comparison: 4.1% of state pop.; 6.5% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Medford; 313 guns traced in 2021
> Medford population and gun tracing comparison: 2.0% of state pop.; 5.7% of statewide gun tracings
Pennsylvania
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Philadelphia; 6,113 guns traced in 2021
> Philadelphia population and gun tracing comparison: 12.3% of state pop.; 39.9% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Pittsburgh; 1,221 guns traced in 2021
> Pittsburgh population and gun tracing comparison: 2.3% of state pop.; 8.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Harrisburg; 466 guns traced in 2021
> Harrisburg population and gun tracing comparison: 0.4% of state pop.; 3.0% of statewide gun tracings
Rhode Island
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Providence; 329 guns traced in 2021
> Providence population and gun tracing comparison: 17.3% of state pop.; 49.4% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Cranston; 69 guns traced in 2021
> Cranston population and gun tracing comparison: 7.6% of state pop.; 10.4% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Pawtucket; 52 guns traced in 2021
> Pawtucket population and gun tracing comparison: 6.9% of state pop.; 7.8% of statewide gun tracings
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South Carolina
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Columbia; 1,782 guns traced in 2021
> Columbia population and gun tracing comparison: 2.7% of state pop.; 16.9% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: North Charleston; 1,018 guns traced in 2021
> North Charleston population and gun tracing comparison: 2.3% of state pop.; 9.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Charleston; 614 guns traced in 2021
> Charleston population and gun tracing comparison: 2.9% of state pop.; 5.8% of statewide gun tracings
South Dakota
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Rapid City; 446 guns traced in 2021
> Rapid City population and gun tracing comparison: 8.4% of state pop.; 53.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Sioux Falls; 111 guns traced in 2021
> Sioux Falls population and gun tracing comparison: 21.5% of state pop.; 13.3% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Box Elder; 34 guns traced in 2021
> Box Elder population and gun tracing comparison: 1.3% of state pop.; 4.1% of statewide gun tracings
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Tennessee
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Memphis; 6,440 guns traced in 2021
> Memphis population and gun tracing comparison: 9.2% of state pop.; 41.5% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Nashville; 1,664 guns traced in 2021
> Nashville population and gun tracing comparison: 10.0% of state pop.; 10.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Chattanooga; 1,577 guns traced in 2021
> Chattanooga population and gun tracing comparison: 2.6% of state pop.; 10.2% of statewide gun tracings
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Texas
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Houston; 11,600 guns traced in 2021
> Houston population and gun tracing comparison: 7.9% of state pop.; 25.5% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Dallas; 5,604 guns traced in 2021
> Dallas population and gun tracing comparison: 4.5% of state pop.; 12.3% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: San Antonio; 4,245 guns traced in 2021
> San Antonio population and gun tracing comparison: 5.0% of state pop.; 9.3% of statewide gun tracings
Utah
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Salt Lake City; 456 guns traced in 2021
> Salt Lake City population and gun tracing comparison: 6.2% of state pop.; 15.2% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: West Valley City; 265 guns traced in 2021
> West Valley City population and gun tracing comparison: 4.3% of state pop.; 8.8% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: West Jordan; 181 guns traced in 2021
> West Jordan population and gun tracing comparison: 3.6% of state pop.; 6.0% of statewide gun tracings
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Vermont
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Burlington; 39 guns traced in 2021
> Burlington population and gun tracing comparison: 7.0% of state pop.; 16.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: South Burlington; 22 guns traced in 2021
> South Burlington population and gun tracing comparison: 3.1% of state pop.; 9.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Colchester; 21 guns traced in 2021
> Colchester population and gun tracing comparison: 2.7% of state pop.; 8.6% of statewide gun tracings
Virginia
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Richmond; 1,341 guns traced in 2021
> Richmond population and gun tracing comparison: 2.6% of state pop.; 11.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Virginia Beach; 1,105 guns traced in 2021
> Virginia Beach population and gun tracing comparison: 5.3% of state pop.; 9.1% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Norfolk; 896 guns traced in 2021
> Norfolk population and gun tracing comparison: 2.8% of state pop.; 7.4% of statewide gun tracings
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Washington
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Seattle; 666 guns traced in 2021
> Seattle population and gun tracing comparison: 9.5% of state pop.; 11.9% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Spokane; 479 guns traced in 2021
> Spokane population and gun tracing comparison: 3.0% of state pop.; 8.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Tacoma; 400 guns traced in 2021
> Tacoma population and gun tracing comparison: 2.9% of state pop.; 7.2% of statewide gun tracings
24/7 Wall St.
West Virginia
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Charleston; 424 guns traced in 2021
> Charleston population and gun tracing comparison: 2.7% of state pop.; 25.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Beckley; 152 guns traced in 2021
> Beckley population and gun tracing comparison: 1.0% of state pop.; 9.0% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Huntington; 137 guns traced in 2021
> Huntington population and gun tracing comparison: 2.6% of state pop.; 8.1% of statewide gun tracings
Wisconsin
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Milwaukee; 3,454 guns traced in 2021
> Milwaukee population and gun tracing comparison: 9.8% of state pop.; 48.9% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Madison; 404 guns traced in 2021
> Madison population and gun tracing comparison: 4.5% of state pop.; 5.7% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Kenosha; 306 guns traced in 2021
> Kenosha population and gun tracing comparison: 1.7% of state pop.; 4.3% of statewide gun tracings
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Wyoming
> City with the most guns linked to crime: Casper; 73 guns traced in 2021
> Casper population and gun tracing comparison: 10.2% of state pop.; 24.6% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 2nd most guns linked to crime: Green River; 40 guns traced in 2021
> Green River population and gun tracing comparison: 2.1% of state pop.; 13.5% of statewide gun tracings
> City with the 3rd most guns linked to crime: Cheyenne; 38 guns traced in 2021
> Cheyenne population and gun tracing comparison: 11.2% of state pop.; 12.8% of statewide gun tracings
Methodology
To identify the three cities in each state where the most guns are linked to crime, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. For each state, we identified the three cities or towns in which the ATF traced the most firearms.
Guns that are traced by the ATF are typically those found at crime scenes and are either have been used, or are suspected to have been used, to commit a crime. Though it is important to note that not all firearms used in a crime are traced.
Total firearms traced by state only includes those in which a city or town was identified by the ATF. Population totals are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
Due to insufficient data, population totals for Colchester, Vermont are five-year estimates from 2019. Additionally, because of gaps in census population reporting, county-level population estimates were used for Cherryfield, Maine, Whitefield, Maine, and Boaz, Kentucky.
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