Associated Press - December 5, 2008 4:25 PM ET

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A new report by a coalition of mayors says 10 states are responsible for the bulk of illegal guns used in out-of-state crimes.

The report released Friday by Mayors Against Illegal Guns says 30% of guns traced by federal agents in 2006 and 2007 as part of crime investigations were bought in another state. It says states with lax gun laws are largely to blame for illegal guns that cross state borders.

The report says West Virginia, Mississippi, and South Carolina are the biggest per capita exporters of illegal guns.

It says New Jersey, the District of Columbia and Hawaii export the fewest guns per capita. The rankings are based on trace data from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.