Federal report finds 68,000 guns were illegally trafficked through unlicensed dealers over 5 years
New data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives shows that 68,000 illegally trafficked firearms in the U.S. came through unlicensed dealers who arenโt required to perform background checks over a five year report.
49 guns stolen from Michigan gun store, $5,000 reward offered for information
ALPENA, Mich. โ The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for a northern Michigan gun store burglary. According to authorities, the burglary happened at about 4:15 a.m., Nov. 21 at Full Bore Firearms, located on Crittenden Court in Alpena. Police said two unknown people threw a brick through the front glass window of the building and stole 49 firearms. The burglary is being investigated by officers with the ATF, Michigan State Police and Alpena County Sheriffโs Office. Anyone with information is asked to contact the ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477), ATFTips@atf.gov or through the official ATF website here.
California sues US regulator in bid to deter 'ghost guns'
Becerra said ghost guns were used in mass shootings that each killed five people in Santa Monica in 2013 and Tehama County in 2017. Ghost gun seizures by the state Department of Justice jumped 512% between 2018 and 2019. California is now home to 18 of the 80 known online ghost gun retailers, double the number from six years ago and the most of any state, according to the lawsuit. โThe only logical intended result of a ghost gun kit is that it will become a firearm,โ Becerra said. โโIf you can assemble Ikea furniture, you can definitely build a ghost gun,โ said Shearer of the Giffords Law Center.
Detroit man faces charges after making social media posts showing guns, marijuana
DETROIT โ A Detroit man is in trouble with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after agents saw some of his social media posts. ATF was monitoring his Instagram account, which went by various names, including โeastbabyslim.โ Agents pulled a variety of screenshots from the account. Some show Massey posing, pointing and sleeping with a gun, and using what appears to be marijuana. His Instagram posts were enough for federal authorities to obtain a search warrant for his Detroit home. He is now facing federal charges in addition to his two other cases.
ATF still looking to determine what caused deadly dive boat fire
The ATF's national response team has "deactivated" from the Navy base where the Conception, a 75-foot dive boat, was taken after it sank on Labor Day following a fire. The Conception was pulled from the water two weeks ago and taken to Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme. The National Transportation Safety Board is also looking into the fire and its investigation is still in the fact-finding phase, spokesman Eric Weiss told CNN. Douglas Schwartz, an attorney for Conception owner Glen Fritzler, told CNN: "As we await the official findings, the preliminary insight is unfortunate. The boat had burned down to the water line, Santa Barbara County fire spokesman Mike Eliason said in the days after the tragedy.
Authorities seeking man who stole guns, silencers from Michigan store in 2013
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is looking for this man in connection with a May 18, 2013, theft in Jackson, Mich. (WDIV)JACKSON, Mich. - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is looking for a man who stole guns and silencers from a Jackson store in 2013. According to the ATF, the man went inside Schupbach's Sporting Goods store at 141. When the store closed, he stole two firearms and 15 silencers. The man is described as white with a stocky build and brown collar-length hair that covered his ears. He was wearing a long, dark-colored shirt, dark-colored cargo pants, a dark-colored watch on his left wrist and light-colored shoes or boots.