Pr otect America

Firearm trafficking is the movement of firearms from the legal to illegal marketplace. It is one of the most pressing problems in the firearms industry today. It reaches across U.S. borders, affecting other countries and U.S. c i t i z e n s l i v i n g ab r o a d .

US Department of Justice

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

In response to the violence on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is committed to denying the tools of the trade to drug trafficking organizations. To be successful, ATF and the firearms industry must work together. Firearms can be prevented from entering illegal commerce.

Field Divisions
A tl a n ta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 40 4 ) 4 17 - 2 60 0 Baltimore .............. (443) 965-2000 Boston ................... (617) 557-1200 Charlotte ............... (704) 716-1800 Ch i c a g o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 3 1 2 ) 8 4 6 - 7 2 0 0 C o l u mb us . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 6 14 ) 8 27 - 8 40 0 Dallas ..................... (469) 227-4300 Denver .................. (303) 844-7540 D e tr o i t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 3 13 ) 2 0 2 -3 4 00 Ho u s to n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 28 1 ) 3 7 2- 2 9 00 Kansas City ........... (816) 559-0700 Los Angeles .......... (818) 265-2500 Lo u i s v i l l e . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . ( 5 0 2 ) 7 5 3 - 3 4 0 0 M i a m i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 30 5 ) 59 7 -4 8 0 0 N a s h v i l l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 61 5 ) 5 65 - 14 0 0 N e w O r l e a n s . . . . . . . . ( 5 04 ) 8 4 1- 7 00 0 N e w Y o r k . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 7 18 ) 6 5 0- 4 0 00 N e w a r k . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 97 3 ) 4 13 - 1 17 9 Philadelphia .......... (215) 717-4700 Phoenix ................. (602) 776-5400 San Francisco ....... (925) 479-7500 S e a t t l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2 0 6) 3 8 9- 5 80 0 S t . P a u l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 65 1 ) 7 26 - 0 20 0 Ta m p a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( 8 1 3 ) 2 0 2 - 7 3 0 0 Washington .......... (202) 648-8010

firearms trafficking

Firearms originating in the United States have been used to murder U.S. citizens and foreign officials. Many firearms trafficked out of the country are used in the drug trade, terrorism, and other ill eg a l a ctiv i ties .

Project Gunr unner: T h e Southwest B o r d e r I n i t i a t ive

Web address: http://www.atf.gov

ATF Publication 3317.6 Revised March 2009

Re c og n i ze I n d i c a t o r s

I d e n t i f y Yo u r C u s t o m e r s
D o you r pa rt to k ee p traff ic kers and prohibited persons from obtaining firearms. Ensure that customers are properly identified prior to the sale or purchase of a firearm. Law-abiding citizens can purchase firearms; criminals cannot. Additionally, resident aliens must prove residency in a state continuously for at least 90 days prior to the transfer of a firearm. Make sure a l l r e q u i re d p a p e r w o rk i s f u l l y completed. As a suggestion, photocopying the purchasers ID and attaching it to the completed AT F F orm 447 3 can as sis t you in recalling a transaction, if necessary. ATF Publication 5300.18 provides a ddi t io nal g u ida n ce re gar d ing aliens purchasing firearms and ammunition in the U.S.

Firearms traffickers are increasingly buying high-end firearms, as well as cheap, inexpensive firearms. Recognizing specific indicators can k e e p y ou f r o m be i ng a n u n w i l l i n g participant in firearms trafficking.

There are some common firearms trafficking indicators. The following list provides a guide to identifying possible criminal activity. However, your own instinct is your best tool to identify possible illegal transactions.

KEY INDICATORS T ra ff i c k e r s M a y :
Wan t to bu y a large n umb er of the same model firearm, or similar firearms. semiautomatic rifles (.223 or 7.62x39) and large frame semia ut o ma t ic p ist ol s ( .3 8 Su pe r , 9mm, .45 and 5.7mm) Order more of the same f i r e a r m s. Structure their purchases to avoid ATF reporting requirements. A t t e mp t t o c o n c e a l t h e i r c o n v e r s at i o n s w i t h e a c h o t h e r .
Choose only tactical type

Not haggle or question the pri ce of the f i r ear m. Mo ney i s usu ally not an is sue. Pay in c ash (no chec ks ) wit h the same denomination. They m a y u s e c r e di t c a r d s . H a ve li ttl e o r no k no w l edg e of the firearms they are purch as ing. La c k th e p hy s ic a l st a t ur e to handle the firearm being p u rc h a se d. A v o i d en t eri n g i nt o co n v e rs a tion or be evasive in any qu e s ti o ns p o se d t o th e m .

A l l p u r c h a s e r s a r e r e q u ir e d t o furnish a valid government-issued picture identification card to verify their identity and address.

I n f o r m Yo u r L o c a l AT F O f f i c e
this brochure. Your phone call can save lives and stop criminals in their t rac ks . A T F a nd t h e N a t i o n s i n d u s t r y a r e p o w e r f u l a l l ie s i n r e d u c i n g gun-related violence on the Southwest border. R e p o r t s u s pi c i o u s a c t i v i t y r e g ar d i n g the purchase of firearms to your local ATF office. You can reach ATF toll free at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867) or by contacting any of the field divisions listed in