"ATF Scrutinizes Gun Shops Selling Crime Guns in Obscure Program"
The federal government has doubled its scrutiny of gun stores that sell guns used in crimes, revealing a list of over 1,300 outlets targeted in 2023 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, including major retailers like Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. Gun stores connected to recent high-profile mass shootings also appear on the list, prompting criticism from the gun store lobby. The criteria for being included on the list is at least 25 guns traced to a crime over a year that were purchased within the past three years, and being listed leads to additional scrutiny by the ATF. Gun violence prevention groups hope the release of the list will incentivize shops to prevent illegal firearm trafficking.