Firearms Trafficking Investigation
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Questions and Answers

What is one of the primary concerns in the Nation?

  • Drug trafficking
  • Terrorism
  • Cybercrime
  • Firearms-related violence (correct)

    • What is the main goal of ATF's firearms trafficking efforts?

  • To reduce terrorism
  • To reduce illegal drug trafficking
  • To reduce armed violent crime (correct)
  • To reduce cybercrime

    • What is firearms trafficking?

  • The legal possession of firearms
  • The illegal use of firearms
  • The illegal diversion of firearms out of lawful commerce (correct)
  • The legal sale of firearms

    • What is a motive for firearms trafficking?

    <p>For profit, prestige, or power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of indirect profit in firearms trafficking?

    <p>Trafficked guns used to protect a drug operation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of Industry Operations Investigators in firearms trafficking?

    <p>To recognize illegal firearms trafficking indicators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between ATF's firearms trafficking efforts and reducing armed violent crime?

    <p>They have a direct relationship</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the scope of ATF's national firearms trafficking effort?

    <p>Comprehensive and national in scope</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential indicator of firearms trafficking at a gun show or flea market?

    <p>Firearms transactions occurring in the parking lot</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do prohibited persons often target private collections at gun shows and flea markets?

    <p>To avoid paperwork and background checks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential source of firearms for traffickers?

    <p>Gun store burglaries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be used to verify the sequencing of NICS numbers?

    <p>The NTN Validator</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do traffickers often prefer to operate at gun shows and flea markets?

    <p>To avoid paperwork and background checks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common feature of firearms trafficking operations?

    <p>A group activity with repetitive acts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be used to trace firearms from manufacturer to recovery at a crime scene?

    <p>The paper chain of evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do some individuals sell firearms at gun shows and flea markets?

    <p>To entice prohibited persons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be a challenge when tracing secondary source firearms?

    <p>The lack of recorded transfers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential vulnerability of firearms traffickers?

    <p>Their repetitive acts and patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason why a person in a gang has command and supremacy over their peers if they have guns or access to guns?

    <p>Prestige and power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of terrorist organizations that see guns as a means to achieve their objectives?

    <p>To forcibly accelerate their agenda</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of diversion in the context of firearms trafficking?

    <p>The movement of firearms from the legal to the illegal marketplace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of diversion that is not trafficking?

    <p>A convicted felon getting his girlfriend to straw purchase one gun for personal use</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a source area in the context of firearms trafficking?

    <p>An area where illegal firearms traffickers have easy access to firearms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a factor that fosters a source area?

    <p>Abundance of gun shows and flea markets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a market area in the context of firearms trafficking?

    <p>An area where firearms acquired in a source area are unlawfully marketed and/or transferred</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a factor that fosters a market area?

    <p>Lack of FFLs and gun shows/flea markets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common indicator of firearms trafficking?

    <p>Frequency of firearms involved in crimes traced by address and/or individual</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of identifying trafficking indicators?

    <p>To explore the factors surrounding the indicator and evaluate the totality of circumstances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be done with individuals who appear to be engaged in the business of unlicensed dealing in firearms?

    <p>Refer them to ATF's Criminal Enforcement immediately</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of Industry Operations Investigators in conducting inspections of FFLs?

    <p>Identifying dealers with significant crime gun traces or high numbers of theft or losses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of ATF's inspection program?

    <p>To prevent and detect the illegal trafficking of firearms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be provided to gun show and flea market owners/managers?

    <p>Pre-approved advisories outlining Federal firearms laws</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of reviewing an FFL's trace history?

    <p>To analyze sales volume and recovery volume</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be done with area Federal firearms licensees?

    <p>Request that state and local officials ensure they comply with state and local laws</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of ATF's trafficking inspection strategy?

    <p>To focus inspections on dealers with compliance problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an important aspect of ATF's inspection program?

    <p>Identifying dealers whose non-compliance has the greatest potential for harm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the benefit of Industry Operations Investigators conducting inspections?

    <p>To have a significant impact on trafficking by targeting high-risk dealers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a resource used to identify possible firearms traffickers?

    <p>FFL Trace History</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common indicator of firearms trafficking?

    <p>A short time to crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a red flag for potential firearms trafficking?

    <p>A customer purchasing firearms with a government assistance ID card</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common pattern of firearms trafficking?

    <p>Female purchasers buying multiple firearms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an indicator of potential firearms trafficking by an FFL?

    <p>A high percentage of crime gun traces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of firearms traffickers?

    <p>They can be anyone in the supply chain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common indicator of firearms trafficking by an individual?

    <p>They purchase firearms with a newly issued DMV non-driver's ID card</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an indicator of potential firearms trafficking by an FFL?

    <p>They have a large inventory of semiautomatic handguns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common indicator of firearms trafficking?

    <p>Obliterated serial numbers on firearms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an indicator of potential firearms trafficking by an FFL?

    <p>They transfer large numbers of firearms to themselves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common indicator of firearms trafficking by an FFL?

    <p>They fail to keep or submit an ATF Form 3310.4</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an indication of a trafficking situation that requires investigation?

    <p>Crime guns that come from recent sales</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of weapon is more likely to be involved in crime?

    <p>Inexpensive handguns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of an out of character purchaser?

    <p>A petite female buying large caliber handguns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the ATF's FFL eZ Check?

    <p>To aid the firearms industry in preventing the fraudulent use of licenses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a reason for a trace to fail?

    <p>The dealer is not cooperative</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the National Tracing Center Referrals?

    <p>To aid in the investigation of firearms trafficking</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the Individual FFL Audit Log?

    <p>To verify that the FFL is complying with the requirement to conduct a NICS check</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the DENI Branch?

    <p>To oversee the processing of NICS denials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a reason for a compliance inspection to be initiated?

    <p>A referral from Criminal Enforcement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the NICS?

    <p>To conduct background checks on firearms purchasers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Firearms Trafficking

    Introduction

    • Firearms-related violence is a major concern in the US
    • ATF's national firearms trafficking effort aims to reduce armed violent crime by investigating and prosecuting illegal firearms suppliers
    • This effort complements direct investigation and prosecution of armed violent criminals and criminal organizations

    Firearms Trafficking Defined

    • Firearms trafficking is the illegal diversion of firearms from lawful commerce to criminals and juveniles for profit, prestige, or power
    • Diversion includes illegal methods or purposes, such as international, interstate, and intrastate trafficking, stolen firearms, and illegal NFA weapon transfers

    Source and Market Areas

    • Source area: where illegal firearms traffickers easily access firearms for resale and transfer to criminal elements
    • Factors that foster a source area: abundance of FFLs, gun shows, and flea markets, lax state and local laws, proximity to urban centers, and narcotics trafficking routes
    • Market area: where firearms are unlawfully marketed and transferred to criminals and juveniles
    • Factors that foster a market area: lack of FFLs and gun shows, strict state and local laws, high incidence of violent crime, and narcotics trafficking

    Identifying Trafficking Indicators

    • Indicators may imply illegal activity, but do not necessarily prove trafficking
    • Examples of trafficking indicators:
      • Frequency of firearms involved in crimes traced by address and/or individual
      • Possession of firearms by juveniles
      • Large cash payments for firearms with Government assistance ID
      • Multiple purchases of firearms by a female
      • Patterns of where guns are coming from (source area) or going to (market area)
      • Time to crime and time to sale
      • Persons repeatedly buying firearms that are traced
      • FFLs with a high percentage of crime gun traces
      • Frequent reports of firearms thefts by an individual or FFL
      • Suspicious purchasers and reports of firearms thefts
      • Obliterated serial numbers on firearms
      • Multiple firearms sales to individuals who reside a long distance from the FFL

    Secondary Sources of Firearms

    • Secondary sources of firearms: used firearms from gun shows, flea markets, pawnshops, and unlicensed/private sales and transfers
    • Indicators of possible unlawful transactions at gun shows and flea markets:
      • Firearms transactions in parking lots
      • Signs indicating "No Paperwork Required" or "Private Collection Sale"
      • Individuals selling firearms without a license
      • Individuals selling firearms with no posted license and substantial or primarily handgun inventory

    Interdiction Procedures and Techniques

    • Objectives: deny criminal access to firearms and reduce armed violent crime
    • Strategies:
      • Provide listing of area FFLs to state and local officials
      • Refer individuals engaged in unlicensed dealing to ATF's Criminal Enforcement
      • Meet with gun show/flea market owners/managers to establish open lines of communication and provide advisories
      • Focus inspection efforts on dealers with compliance problems and high potential for contributing to firearms diversion
      • Conduct inspections of FFLs with significant trace history or indication of involvement in trafficking### Inspections and Referrals
    • Inspections of FFLs may be initiated from Criminal Enforcement referrals when agents identify potential GCA violations.
    • These inspections are not a means of opening a trafficking investigation under the guise of a compliance inspection.

    Denial Enforcement and NICS Intelligence (DENI) Branch

    • Oversees the processing of NICS denials received from the FBI and refers them to AT field offices for further investigation.
    • Serves as ATF's liaison with the FBI on NICS-related matters.
    • Responds to dealer inquiries and concerns regarding NICS issues.
    • Analyzes data from NICS denials to identify illegal firearms trafficking and other criminal trends.

    Individual FFL Audit Log

    • Used to verify FFL compliance with NICS check requirements and ensure no improper use.
    • POC states may supply their own FFL audit log or have NICS supply it.
    • Upon notification, NICS provides up to 60 days of an FFL's transactions in an Individual FFL Audit Log.
    • The audit log contains comprehensive information for all denied transactions, including:
      • Date NICS was contacted
      • NTN
      • Code for the type of transaction (e.g., sale of a handgun, return of a pawned handgun, etc.)
      • NICS response
    • NICS provides information on any problems or discrepancies experienced with the FFL.
    • Additional denial information for more than 60 days is available upon request.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the basics of firearms trafficking, its indicators, and ATF's programs and related databases for Industry Operations Investigators.

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