A bill moving through the state legislature takes aim at gun violence by requiring law enforcement agencies statewide to use a firearm tracking and reporting system.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reported that around 5,200 firearms were traced and recovered in 2023, according to their website. Around 1,500 firearms were recovered in Minneapolis, followed by about 700 in St. Paul and 188 in Brooklyn Park.
These trackings are done through the Bureau’s eTrace system. While a helpful tool, Minnesota law enforcement is not currently required to use it.
Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park), who authored the bill, hopes to change the requirement. Latz said in a press release that this bill would help decrease the number of violent crimes and illegal gun trafficking across the state.
“Tracking firearms used in violent crimes is critical to solving cases quickly, keeping dangerous criminals off the streets and combating illegal gun trafficking,” Latz said in the statement. “This legislation will ensure that law enforcement agencies are using this critical tool to get violent criminals off the street sooner and prevent crime.”
The Bureau’s eTrace system uses markings on a firearm to identify its original manufacturer or importer, according to a report from the Bureau’s website. Then, the weapon can be traced from a wholesaler or retailer all the way to the purchaser.
If the firearm has a damaged or altered serial number, the Bureau uses forensic experts and technology to find its origins, the report reads. The Bureau also works with federal firearm licensees to search their records for the serial number.
Executive Director of Protect Minnesota Maggiy Emery said requiring firearm tracing through the Bureau would help law enforcement and the state better understand how to stop firearm trafficking. She added this gun tracking could be especially useful with violent crime involving guns because certain trends can be followed, like locations, types of firearms and more.
“It helps us understand how crime guns come to be involved in crimes and how we can get them at the source before they go on to be used in another crime,” Emery said.
Federal firearms licensees are required to report any lost or stolen firearms from their inventory to the Bureau in hopes that these weapons are not passed to be used in future crimes.
Around 300,000 firearms are stolen every year, according to the Center for American Progress. Emery said the Bureau’s eTrace system could decrease the number of stolen firearms that are later used in violent crimes and while returning the guns to their proper owners.
“In addition to just stopping crime guns from being used over and over, it helps stop guns from being stolen because it gives us an idea of where they’re getting stolen from,” Emery said. “‘Why is this happening?’ All of those kinds of pieces.”
Although not many bills surrounding gun violence prevention have passed in the state Legislature this year, Emery said requiring law enforcement to use the eTrace system is common sense to prevent future gun violence.
“I do think that this is a kind of a common sense system,” Emery said. “It’s free for law enforcement agencies to use. This is cost-neutral. It’s data-driven. It strengthens agency collaboration. There’s just really no reason for us not to use it.”
