Data on the source of used firearms in crimes based upon a survey of prison inmates collected and published by the bureau of justice statistics.
Main findings [edit]
*About 21% of state and 20% of federal prisoners said they possessed a gun during their offense, while 79% of state and 80% of federal prisoners did not.
*About 29% of state and 36% of federal prisoners serving time for a violent offense possessed a gun during the offense.
*About 1.3% of prisoners obtained a gun from a retail source and used it during their offense.
*Handguns were the most common type of firearm possessed by state and federal prisoners (18% each); 11% of all prisoners used a handgun.
*Among prisoners who possessed a gun during their offense, 90% did not obtain it from a retail source.
Reference [edit]
“Source and Use of Firearms Involved in Crimes: Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016.” n.d. https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/source-and-use-firearms-involved-crimes-survey-prison-inmates-2016 .
