The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported a 30% decrease in gun-trafficking charges during the first year of the Trump administration compared to the previous year. Additionally, the number of referrals that prosecutors declined increased. Under Trump's administration, many ATF agents were reassigned from gun law enforcement to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its operations against undocumented immigrants. The Trump administration also reversed a Biden-era initiative aimed at stricter enforcement against gun stores violating regulations, resulting in a 69% reduction in the number of dealers losing their licenses.
In 2021, the Biden administration implemented a 'zero tolerance' policy for gun dealers found to be willfully violating laws, leading to a significant increase in license revocations from fewer than 50 in previous years to a record 181 in 2023. The administration also emphasized prioritizing gun violence through federal prosecutors and introduced a firearms trafficking conspiracy charge to the federal criminal code.
Despite a decline in the homicide rate, experts caution that the illegal gun trade remains a concern, as the effects of policy changes may take time to manifest. Marianna Mitchem, a former ATF associate assistant director, expressed concern over the policy reversals and their potential long-term impact on violent crime. She noted that the number of firearms in the U.S. is estimated to be close to 400 million, with a significant portion of crime-related firearms traced back to illegal purchases. The enforcement of gun sales laws is critical for public safety, yet it remains a contentious issue in the political landscape.