- A joint investigation in 2024 by CBS News, The Trace and The Center for Investigative Reporting revealed that over 52,000 police firearms were tied to crimes between 2006 and 2022. It prompted some law enforcement agencies to reevaluate or halt their firearm resale policies.
- Colorado State Patrol, Newark Police Department and Wisconsin State Patrol are reviewing their policies on reselling firearms, according to CBS News.
- The ATF stressed that when police agencies dispose of firearms, whether by selling them to retailers or officers, they must trace each weapon.
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A joint investigation in 2024 by CBS News, The Trace and The Center for Investigative Reporting uncovered more than 52,000 police firearms tied to crimes between 2006 and 2022. Now, some law enforcement agencies are changing their firearms reselling policies or stopping the practice altogether.
CBS News, ATF reports show used police guns linked to crime
A January 2025 report by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reinforced the news networks’ investigation. The agency issued a warning to law enforcement groups nationwide, urging them to reconsider the practice of selling firearms.
Data from the report showed that, between 2019 and 2023, law enforcement previously owned over 25,000 firearms involved in crimes. More than 14% of those guns were linked to homicides or violent crimes, while another 2,000 seized guns came from convicted felons.
CBS News contacted 60 different agencies about ending used gun sales. At least seven agencies said they are reviewing their policy on reselling firearms, including Colorado State Patrol, Newark Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office told The Trace they are checking with the county’s commissioners regarding a policy change. The agency relied on a discount for old firearms traded in to purchase new equipment. Without it, there’s a chance additional funding is needed.
Police departments stop reselling guns
Police departments in Sacramento, Cincinnati and Columbus have committed to no longer reselling their firearms. CBS News said their investigation also led the Indianapolis and Minneapolis police departments to end all gun resales.
According to a 2018 report, the ATF reported that state and local governments oversee 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the country, including federal and tribal agencies.
Gun reselling varies between law enforcement agencies and states
The law surrounding firearm disposal varies by state, giving many law enforcement agencies the discretion to decide how to handle weapons no longer needed. In many cases, they can sell these firearms. Law enforcement typically sell their current supply to help cover the costs of obtaining new firearms.
However, the ATF highlighted a 1998 policy resolution from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which recommended that law enforcement agencies destroy firearms they no longer need as opposed to selling them.
The ATF urges agencies to trace each firearm when it is disposed of, whether by selling it to retailers or officers for private use. This includes tracking not just the gun but also the cartridge casings recovered from crime scenes. The ATF explained these efforts not only help solve crimes but also ensure authorities can track the ownership of firearms.
To purchase a firearm, whether through a trade-in from a police department or another dealer, individuals must pass a federal background check. Additionally, the firearm must be legal in the buyer’s state.