ATF Report Shows Guns Trafficked Via Dating Apps
Contributed by: kellyseal on Wednesday, May 01 2024 @ 05:51 pm
Last modified on Wednesday, May 01 2024 @ 06:01 pm
A new report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has found that people are using apps like Facebook, TikTok and dating app Tinder to traffic guns.
The report released in early April found that between 2017 and 2021, a larger percentage of guns were trafficked over online platforms like these than were sold at gun shows, according to The Washington Times[*1] .
The ATF investigation found a number of illegal ways people could obtain firearms, including 3.6 percent of illicit sales from online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and OfferUp, 2.7 percent via social platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and 1 percent through social apps like WhatsApp, TikTok and Tinder.
According to the ATF report[*2] , 40 percent of guns found with violent criminals were purchased through so-called “straw sales,” where a family member or spouse is pressured by the gun user to purchase the firearm when they aren’t legally allowed.
Another 40 percent were purchased through private sales, where a gun owner can sell it to a purchaser. Most states require background checks, but not all. The Biden administration however just passed a new rule to close this loophole and require all firearms dealers who intend to make a profit from selling weapons to perform a background check on anyone who wants to buy. This includes private sales, gun shows, and Internet sales - even via apps like Tinder.
Gun rights activists have been vocal about the new rule, saying that it impedes Americans’ right to bear arms. But gun violence in the U.S. has increased, and many young people are falling victim in classrooms, shopping malls and movie theaters. They have been the most vocal critics of gun sales, along with non-profits like Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action.
“The law is now clear: If you’re selling firearms at a gun show or online, you are presumed to be engaged in the business of dealing guns and must obtain a license and run background checks on all customers,” John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement, according to The Washington Times. “This game-changing rule will thwart criminals, save lives, and serve as a testament to the Biden-Harris Administration’s steadfast commitment to keeping communities safe from gun violence.”
Tinder, Facebook and TikTok have not responded to the report, or commented on these types of sales happening on their platforms.