30 August 2023
TOPEKA (KSNT) – In 2021, there were 4,303 firearms recovered in Kansas. Topeka had the third-highest number of firearms recovered in the state with 575 recoveries.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) maintains a national registry of all firearms under the National Firearms Act. Since 2005, the number of firearms processed in the U.S. has increased 20-fold.
The ATF compiles data with a one-year delay to comply with the Trade Secrets Act. For example, data released in 2014 would cover the 2012 calendar year. The ATF doesn’t include duplicate traces, non-recovered firearms, firearms turned in or gun buybacks in its data.
Firearm trace data is used by law enforcement to investigate and track the sales and possession of specific firearms. Not all firearms used in crime are traced and not all firearms traced are used in crime, according to the ATF.
CZ-USA out of Kansas City was the largest manufacturer of firearms producing nearly 75% of all firearms made in Kansas with over 14,000 pistols, 188 rifles and 100 miscellaneous firearms.
ATF recognizes the role that firearms play in violent crimes and pursues an integrated regulatory and enforcement strategy. Investigative priorities focus on armed violent offenders and career criminals, narcotics traffickers, narco-terrorists, violent gangs, and domestic and international arms traffickers.
ATF website on firearms statistics.
National ATF data on firearms processed since 2005. Over the period, the number of firearms processed has increased almost 20 times over.
Firearm types recovered in Kansas
Pistols3,146Rifles470Revolvers360Shotguns265Derringers22Machineguns15Receivers/Frames11Other*14
Time-to-crime 2021 in Kansas
Under 3 Months3223 Months to Under 7 Months3097 Months to Under 1 Year3181 Year to Under 2 Years5352 Years to Under 3 Years2463 Years and Over1,734Time-to-crime is calculated by subtracting the purchase date from the recovery date.
Age of possessors in Kansas
17 and Under14618 to 2144622 to 2431925 to 3057731 to 4078941 to 50441Over 50357
Top cities for recoveries in Kansas
Wichita1,718Kansas City648Topeka575Shawnee142Salina114Lenexa103Garden City100Junction City81Lawrence81Olathe78