Report shows both states were top sources for firearm trafficking

By Jim Schoettler

Story updated Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008

A national report that links states with lax gun laws to interstate trafficking of firearms used in crimes lists Georgia and Florida as the top suppliers in 2007.

Those numbers are based on states with larger populations and greater volumes of gun sales. There were 2,631 guns traced back to an original sale in Georgia used illegally in another state, while 2,328 guns came from Florida.

On a per-capita basis - guns exported per 100,000 residents - West Virginia and Mississippi were the leaders. Georgia ranked seventh, while Florida ranked 20th.

The report on interstate gun trafficking released Friday by Mayors Against Illegal Guns doesn't specify where the guns came from in any state. But federal law enforcement records show that in Florida, Jacksonville topped the cities of firearms recovered by police with 3,128 in 2007. Atlanta led the way in Georgia.

Lax laws in Georgia, Florida

Those city-specific records were from reports of gun traces done by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The national study is based on such traces from 2006 and 2007.

The report provides a checklist based on whether states have strict gun laws. In Florida and Georgia, the report notes that there is no background check required by private, unlicensed sellers at gun shows; no purchase permit required for all handgun purchases; no requirement for reporting lost or stolen guns; and no local control of gun regulations.

The report said states with lax gun laws also had higher in-state murder rates and fatal shootings of police officers.

"While all states operate under the same federal gun laws, many states have enacted a series of additional laws ... to choke off the illegal market and reduce criminal access to guns," the report said. "The states that have not [enacted additional laws] ... have comparatively weak gun laws."

Jacksonville mayor joins fight

The group of 340 U.S. mayors is headed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton joined the group this year. Peyton plans to meet with Bloomberg next week to further discuss the illegal gun issue, said Misty Skipper, Peyton's spokeswoman.

"We're certainly disappointed but not surprised by the information contained in this report," Skipper said. "Part of the reason the mayor was so interested in getting involved with this program was to address some of the issues that were identified as part of this study."..

Assistant State Attorney Mark Caliel said stricter regulations would likely cut down on the interstate trafficking in illegal firearms. Caliel prosecutes violent crime cases as part of a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office anti-crime initiative known as Operation Safe Streets.

Caliel has spearheaded a study to determine the origin and other specifics of 1,500 guns recovered in Jacksonville during the first six months of this year. He hopes to have some results by next summer.

"The reason why people come to Florida to buy their guns is because it's easier to get them here," Caliel said.

But Paul Rukab, owner of St. Nicholas Gun, said toughening gun laws won't stop criminals from finding a way to acquire firearms and use them wherever they choose.

"The laws are made for law-abiding citizens, not for criminals," Rukab said. "How can you stop people from stealing guns? You have to get tough on criminals."