Breitbart reports that 2018 figures from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) show Illinois as the top source state for guns recovered in the state. 5,337 guns recovered in Illinois were traced and sourced as coming from Illinois.
Chicago’s astronomical gun violence is regularly blamed on out-of-state firearm purchases.
“Former president Barack Obama suggested the majority of guns recovered in Chicago were from other states, during a speech at the 122nd annual International Association of Chiefs of Police on June 27, 2015. The Indianapolis Star quoted him saying, “There are those who criticize any gun safety reforms by pointing to my hometown as an example. The problem with that argument, as the Chicago Police Department will tell you, is that 60 percent of guns recovered in crimes come from out of state. You’ve just got to hop across the border.”
Over the weekend, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) told CNN’s State of the Union, “Our gun problem is related to the fact that we have too many illegal guns on our streets, 60 percent of which come from states outside of Illinois.”