Federal weapons convictions have reached record levels under the Biden administration in 2022, with a notable increase in convictions for weapon offenses since a low point in 1998. The Eastern District of Missouri has the highest rates of criminal convictions for weapons, followed by districts in Tennessee, New Mexico, Alabama, and Iowa. Surprisingly, the data shows that most of these convictions are not concentrated in districts with large urban areas, with districts like Manhattan, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn ranking low in comparison. The number of federal convictions for weapon offenses has steadily increased, reaching 9,559 convictions in 2022, the highest number since records began.
As of March 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is responsible for 60 percent of weapon convictions, with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) contributing significantly as well. Referrals from local and state enforcement agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also play a role in weapon convictions. In 2024, there have been over 5,000 gun deaths in the U.S. and more than 130 mass shootings. A study of arrests in 2020 showed that 2.3 percent involved weapons, and 40 percent of criminals convicted while in possession of a firearm were prohibited from carrying such weapons.
Support for increased gun control laws has declined significantly in the U.S. over the past 30 years, with a drop from 78 percent of Americans favoring tougher regulations in 1990 to just 56 percent in 2023. This issue is likely to be a central debate in the 2024 election, as President Biden has made reducing gun violence a priority for his administration, while facing resistance from Republicans who advocate for fewer restrictions. Gun crime remains a major concern in the country, with statistics showing high levels of gun-related deaths and violence. The increase in federal weapons convictions highlights the ongoing struggle to address this issue and the need for effective strategies to combat gun violence. Newsweek is committed to covering and exploring these issues to challenge conventional wisdom and find common ground on this critical topic.
