For the third straight year, the Trump administration ramped up enforcement of federal gun control in 2019, according to the latest data released by the ATF.

Last year, the ATF recommended 11,319 cases for prosecution. That compares with 10,691 cases recommended for prosecution in 2018, a 5.9 percent increase year-on-year. This continues an upward trend in prosecutions we’ve seen going back to the Obama years.

  • 2019 – 11,319
  • 2018 – 10,691
  • 2017 – 9,591
  • 2016 – 8,805
  • 2015 – 7,516
  • 2014 – 7,577

Since Trump has been in the White House, the number of cases recommended for prosecution has increased by 28.6 percent.

The number of indictments and convictions showed a similar upward trajectory. For a more detailed breakdown of the numbers and source links, click HERE.

In addition to enforcing federal firearms laws, the ATF also investigates arson, cases involving explosives, and alcohol and tobacco cases, but these make up a small percentage of the total. Under Trump, 92 percent of the cases investigated by the ATF involved firearms. It was slightly less under Obama – 90 percent.

ATF enforcement of federal gun laws in Trump’s first year increased at roughly the same trajectory as it did during the last three years of Obama’s second term and it has continued at roughly the same pace since.

“In other words, the NRA-backed, GOP ‘protector of the Second Amendment’ has been no better than the Democratic Party so-called gun-grabber,” Tenth Amendment Center national communications director Mike Maharrey said. “In fact, he’s been harder on guns, even implementing new gun control with his bump stock ban.”

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Contact: Mike Maharrey
Communications Director
O: 213.935.0553
media@tenthamendmentcenter.com
www.tenthamendmentcenter.com

Mike Maharrey