Special Report

Cities Where Gun Related Crime is Surging

dlewis33 / E+ via Getty Images
Samuel Stebbins
Published:

Gun sales have hit record highs in the United States in recent years. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 36.6 million firearms were manufactured and sold in the U.S. between 2020 and 2022, a 60% increase over the preceding three-year period. And as consumer demand for firearms has spiked, so too have instances of criminal gun violence. (These are the states where anyone can get a gun today.)

Every year, American law enforcement agencies seize thousands of firearms suspected to have been used in a crime. As part of the investigation, the ATF often traces these firearms back to their original point of sale. In 2022 alone, the ATF traced nearly 505,000 firearms — a 10.6% increase from the previous year, and more than double the number of tracings reported as recently as 2014.  

While not all guns traced by the ATF have been used in a crime — and not all firearms used for illicit purposes are traced — federal tracing data offers valuable insight into trends and geographic patterns related to gun violence in the United States. In the last year, for example, some U.S. cities have reported a surge in suspected criminal firearm investigations. 

Using ATF firearm tracing data as a proxy for criminal offenses, 24/7 Wall St. identified the U.S. cities where gun crime is surging. We considered the 10 cities in each state with the most firearm tracings in 2022 — 500 U.S. cities in total — and ranked them on the one-year change in ATF gun tracings. Cities in which fewer than 20 firearms were traced in 2021 were excluded from analysis. 

Each of the 35 cities on this list reported a more than 50% increase in federal firearm investigations between 2021 and 2022. In many of these cities, criminal firearm investigations more than doubled year over year. (Here is a look at the states where gun deaths are increasing the fastest.)

While most cities on this list also reported a net influx of new residents between 2021 and 2022, population growth alone does not explain the spike in criminal gun violence. Adjusted for population using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 and 2022 American Community Surveys, the rate of ATF firearm tracings also increased meaningfully in every city on this list. 

Here are the cities where gun related crime is surging.

35. Tacoma, WA

Colleen Michaels / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +51.8% (+207)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 607 in 2022; 400 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.9% (+1,902)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 276.9 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 184.1 per 100,000 people

34. North Platte, NE

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +52.3% (+23)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 67 in 2022; 44 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -1.0% (-234)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 287.4 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 186.9 per 100,000 people

33. Saint George, UT

alpenarts / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +52.9% (+63)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 182 in 2022; 119 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +3.6% (+3,299)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 189.2 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 128.1 per 100,000 people

32. Corpus Christi, TX

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +54.2% (+416)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 1,184 in 2022; 768 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.1% (-364)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 372.6 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 241.4 per 100,000 people

31. Holyoke, MA

Holyoke, Massachusetts by Doug Kerr
Holyoke, Massachusetts (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +54.4% (+37)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 105 in 2022; 68 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.7% (-270)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 274.8 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 176.7 per 100,000 people

30. Maple Grove, MN

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +56.9% (+29)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 80 in 2022; 51 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.3% (+210)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 114.1 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 73.0 per 100,000 people

29. Peoria, AZ

EuToch / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +58.6% (+112)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 303 in 2022; 191 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +1.9% (+3,559)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 158.4 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 101.7 per 100,000 people

28. Racine, WI

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +59.0% (+147)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 396 in 2022; 249 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.3% (-252)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 511.3 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 320.4 per 100,000 people

27. West Allis, WI

Wisconsin State Fair by Sulfur
Wisconsin State Fair (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by Sulfur
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +61.7% (+116)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 304 in 2022; 188 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.5% (-313)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 507.5 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 312.2 per 100,000 people

26. Syracuse, NY

DebraMillet / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +65.9% (+135)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 340 in 2022; 205 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.4% (-647)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 232.7 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 139.7 per 100,000 people

25. York, PA

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +68.3% (+86)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 212 in 2022; 126 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.2% (+90)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 473.4 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 281.9 per 100,000 people

24. Newport News, VA

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +69.3% (+537)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 1,312 in 2022; 775 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.03% (+49)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 708.7 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 418.8 per 100,000 people

23. East Saint Louis, IL

View from East St. Louis by Paul Sableman
View from East St. Louis (CC BY 2.0) by Paul Sableman
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +70.2% (+134)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 325 in 2022; 191 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -3.3% (-641)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 1729.1 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 982.7 per 100,000 people

22. Clarksburg, WV

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +73.7% (+42)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 99 in 2022; 57 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.7% (-108)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 619.6 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 354.4 per 100,000 people

21. Elizabethtown, KY

Hardin County Courthouse by Nyttend
Hardin County Courthouse (Public Domain) by Nyttend
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +74.7% (+62)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 145 in 2022; 83 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +1.2% (+359)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 461.4 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 267.2 per 100,000 people

20. Myrtle Beach, SC

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +76.9% (+247)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 568 in 2022; 321 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +2.7% (+948)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 1575.0 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 914.1 per 100,000 people

19. Chester, PA

20201008 12 Chester, Pennsylva... by David Wilson
20201008 12 Chester, Pennsylva... (CC BY 2.0) by David Wilson
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +87.7% (+100)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 214 in 2022; 114 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.7% (+229)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 647.5 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 347.4 per 100,000 people

18. Murfreesboro, TN

csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +95.9% (+162)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 331 in 2022; 169 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +3.0% (+4,517)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 215.7 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 113.4 per 100,000 people

17. Fresno, CA

Shunyu Fan / E+ via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +98.0% (+944)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 1,907 in 2022; 963 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.5% (+2,850)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 352.2 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 178.8 per 100,000 people

16. Norman, OK

USPS NCED in Norman Oklahoma by Mark Taylor
USPS NCED in Norman Oklahoma (CC BY 2.0) by Mark Taylor
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +100.0% (+28)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 56 in 2022; 28 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +1.6% (+1,956)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 43.9 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 22.3 per 100,000 people

15. Las Cruces, NM

SWInsider / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +104.5% (+139)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 272 in 2022; 133 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +1.2% (+1,339)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 244.4 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 121.0 per 100,000 people

14. Ogden, UT

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +107.8% (+110)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 212 in 2022; 102 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.7% (+644)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 244.4 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 118.5 per 100,000 people

13. Aurora, CO

arinahabich / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +113.8% (+272)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 511 in 2022; 239 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +1.0% (+3,853)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 131.9 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 62.3 per 100,000 people

12. Duluth, MN

BanksPhotos / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +114.3% (+80)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 150 in 2022; 70 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.1% (+61)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 172.9 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 80.7 per 100,000 people

11. Wasilla, AK

miracky / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +129.4% (+44)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 78 in 2022; 34 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +1.9% (+169)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 841.7 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 373.7 per 100,000 people

10. Anchorage, AK

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +129.5% (+500)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 886 in 2022; 386 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.6% (-1,871)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 304.8 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 131.9 per 100,000 people

9. Honolulu, HI

okimo / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +136.7% (+41)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 71 in 2022; 30 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.9% (-3,007)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 20.4 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 8.5 per 100,000 people

8. Lihue, HI

Hotaik Sung / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +150.0% (+33)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 55 in 2022; 22 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +3.3% (+278)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 635.9 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 262.8 per 100,000 people

7. Austin, TX

dszc / E+ via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +156.7% (+1,042)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 1,707 in 2022; 665 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +1.4% (+13,544)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 178.1 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 70.4 per 100,000 people

6. Sioux City, IA

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +159.2% (+121)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 197 in 2022; 76 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.5% (+388)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 230.5 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 89.3 per 100,000 people

5. Great Falls, MT

leezsnow / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +164.7% (+140)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 225 in 2022; 85 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.01% (-8)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 372.7 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 140.8 per 100,000 people

4. New Britain, CT

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +165.2% (+114)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 183 in 2022; 69 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +0.3% (+190)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 246.6 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 93.2 per 100,000 people

3. Farmington, NM

KaraGrubis / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +176.9% (+92)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 144 in 2022; 52 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.5% (-239)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 310.0 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 111.4 per 100,000 people

2. Fort Worth, TX

Barbara Smyers / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +274.3% (+1,975)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 2,695 in 2022; 720 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: +1.8% (+16,194)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 291.5 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 79.3 per 100,000 people

1. Montgomery, AL

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • 1-yr. change in ATF firearm tracings, 2021-2022: +317.0% (+596)
  • ATF firearm tracings by year: 784 in 2022; 188 in 2021
  • 1-yr. change in population, 2021-2022: -0.6% (-1,203)
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2022: 392.4 per 100,000 people
  • Population adjusted ATF firearm tracings in 2021: 93.5 per 100,000 people

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Read more: Special Report, ATF, cities where gun violence is getting worse, cities where the feds investigate the most gun crime, cities with the most gun crime, federal gun investigations, firearm traces, Crime

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