Rep. Dan Goldman Introduces Legislation to Bolster Anti-Gun Trafficking Efforts
July 9, 2025
‘ATF DATA Act’ Requires ATF to Publish Comprehensive Data on Recovered Illicit Firearms to Inform Anti-Trafficking Strategies
93% of Guns Used in NYC Crimes are From Out of State
Read the Bill Here
Washington D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced the ‘ATF DATA Act’ which would require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Agency to publish an annual report detailing illegal firearm recoveries and a variety of aggregated trace data to better inform anti-gun trafficking strategies by law enforcement. A companion bill was introduced by Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) in the Senate.
“To effectively tackle America’s escalating gun violence epidemic, we must first understand the full scope and extent of illegal gun trafficking,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “The ‘ATF DATA Act’ is a vital step towards increasing public transparency by requiring law enforcement to publish comprehensive data on gun seizures and related arrests. This information will help identify communities facing heightened gun trafficking, how these weapons are used, and where they’re being purchased. Answering these questions is crucial for developing effective gun violence prevention and intervention strategies, and for ensuring resources reach the communities that need them most.”
By collecting the make, model, caliber, and serial number of these firearms through a system known as eTrace, the National Tracing Center (NTC) can establish the chain of custody of the firearm from their importer or manufacturer to their last known purchaser and the licensed firearms dealer (FFL) where the weapon was sold. The data in the annual report would include:
- Data related to characteristics of FFLs to which crime guns were traced in the preceding year.
- Data on the types of firearms being recovered, including the most common manufacturers, models, finishes and/or colors, and barrel lengths of traced firearms, and data on privately made firearms, commonly known as “ghost guns.
- Data on how firearms are being purchased and diverted to the illegal market, including data on multiple sales and lost or stolen firearms.
- Geographical data on recovered crime guns, both domestic and international, including their sources, their recoveries, and the recovering agencies, disaggregated data from the areas in the country with the highest homicide rates and the highest total homicides, as well as trace data from the law enforcement agencies that request the most traces.
As a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Congressman Goldman has been a leading advocate in the fight against gun violence.
In April, Congressman Goldman reintroduced the 'Prioritizing Resources for Outreach, Safety, Violence Prevention, Youth Empowerment and Resilience (PROSPER) Act,’ which would invest federal funding in community-based organizations that focus on gun violence intervention and prevention, ensuring that these organizations have the support and resources they need to steer young people away from the cycle of violence and towards positive life trajectories.
This month, Congressman Goldman jointly introduced the ‘Firearm Destruction Licensure Act,’ alongside Senator Schiff (CA). This legislation would close a gun loophole that is allowing firearms designated for destruction to be sold back into American communities and potentially into the hands of bad actors.
This week, Congressman Goldman and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the ‘Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act,’ which would address flaws in the background check process and keep firearms out of the hands of individuals that courts determine pose a risk of harm to others. Senator Booker introduced the companion bill in the Senate.
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Issues:Gun Violence Prevention