Every year, nearly 40,000 Americans lose their lives to gun-related violence. That’s a staggering number, and one that’s often used to push for more gun control. But here’s the thing the gun control crowd won’t tell you: most criminals don’t get their guns legally. They don’t walk into a gun store, pass a background check, and walk out with a weapon. So, where are they getting their firearms?
Let’s break it down. According to a 2019 Department of Justice (DOJ) survey, a whopping 43% of criminals bought their guns on the black market. That’s nearly half. Another 6% got theirs through theft, and 11% had someone else—a straw purchaser—buy it for them. Only 10% of criminals bought their guns from a retail store, and less than 1%—yes, you read that right—less than 1% got their firearms at a gun show. So much for the myth of the “gun show loophole” being a major source of crime guns.
The Black Market: Where Crime and Firearms Collide
Let’s talk about the black market, where almost half of criminals get their guns. These aren’t your law-abiding citizens strolling into a store. No, these are criminals obtaining their weapons through illicit channels that are completely untouched by gun control laws. And who are the enablers? Lazy, incompetent gun owners who fail to secure their firearms, making them easy targets for theft, according to former NYPD detective David Chianese. It’s these stolen guns that often end up fueling street crime.
Straw Purchases: The Loophole Criminals Exploit
Then there are straw purchasers—people who legally buy guns just to hand them off to criminals. It’s a classic case of using legal channels to support illegal activities. And yet, we’re told that more gun laws will fix the problem. But how, exactly? Stricter laws don’t deter those already willing to break the law. They just make it harder for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
Mass Killers vs. Street Criminals: A Distinction with a Difference
Now, let’s not lump all criminals together. There’s a big difference between the street criminals who buy their guns on the black market and the mass shooters who often obtain their weapons legally. Charles Marino, CEO of Sentinel Security Solutions, points out that mass killers usually acquire their firearms legally—often with the help of a friend or family member. But when it comes to street crimes, the weapons have typically been stolen or passed through several hands in the black market.
Ghost Guns: The New Frontier of Criminal Firearms
And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, enter the “ghost guns.” These are self-made firearms that criminals can assemble in their basements. They’re legal for law-abiding citizens, but they’re a nightmare for law enforcement. Imagine getting a gun kit mailed right to your door, bypassing any background checks. It’s a loophole that’s becoming increasingly popular among criminals, making it even harder for law enforcement to track these weapons.
The Dark Web: A Criminal’s Paradise
As if the black market wasn’t bad enough, we also have the dark web—a shadowy online marketplace where criminals can anonymously purchase guns. According to a 2018 RAND report, while the arms trade on the dark web is small compared to other illicit goods like drugs, its impact is potentially devastating. The dark web allows criminals to buy firearms with Bitcoin, hiding their identities and locations, making it nearly impossible for law enforcement to track them down.
The Reality of Gun Control: A Failed Experiment
So, what does all this mean? It means that the gun control measures often touted as “solutions” do little to stop criminals from getting their hands on guns. In fact, they may do more harm than good by disarming law-abiding citizens while criminals continue to exploit the black market, straw purchases, and now, the dark web. The real issue isn’t the legal sale of guns—it’s the illegal channels that are already outside the reach of the law.
If we’re serious about reducing gun violence, we need to focus on cracking down on the black market, securing firearms to prevent theft, and making it harder for criminals to exploit these loopholes. But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that more gun laws are the answer. They’re not. And until we start addressing the real sources of illegal firearms, we’ll continue to see the same tragic headlines year after year.
