As Trump Administration Cripples Gun Dealer Oversight…

Report indicates guns used in crime in California are primarily trafficked from other states or traced to a small percentage of unscrupulous gun dealers

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 3,, 2025 — This week, California’s Department of Justice released its annual Crime Guns Trace Report. The annual report is a product of legislation sponsored by Brady, the country’s oldest gun violence prevention organization, and its Combating Crime Guns Initiative program. This legislation was originally passed in 2021 with overwhelming bipartisan support.

The 2025 Trace Report highlights that nearly three-quarters (73.4%) of recovered crime guns in the state could not be traced to a specific dealer in California — indicating a large and growing percentage of firearms being trafficked into California from other states where there are fewer gun safety regulations. For the first time this year, the Trace Report now includes data on California Department of Justice inspections of gun dealers — revealing the average inspection found 52 violations.

Crime guns proliferated throughout the whole state, including rural areas, yet less than 10% of dealers were associated with roughly half of all traceable guns in 2024. This finding underscores the reality that a small number of gun dealers continue to be the source of a large percentage of crime guns recovered by law enforcement. This trend has been observed in Brady’s trace report’s in other states.

Brady President Kris Brown said:

As the Trump administration decimates oversight of and accountability for gun dealers that flagrantly break the law, unleashing illegal weapons across the country that terrorize communities, California serves as a model for other states with its strong gun safety legislation and this annual report. Only through understanding the story of guns used in crimes can we identify irresponsible dealers, hold them accountable, and stop the flow of weapons to our neighborhoods - particularly Black and Brown communities that face disproportionate gun violence. Freeing California and America from gun violence means taking the findings from this trace report, developing meaningful, data-driven policy solutions, and following through on implementation. Lives literally depend on it. Brady will be there as an eager partner every step of the way - from helping draft the original legislation to partnering on future enhancements of California’s tracing capabilities.

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Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.