The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Investigative Operations at Gun Shows
Evaluation and Inspections Report I-2007-007 June 2007 Office of the Inspector General
EXECUTIVE DIGEST
ACRONYMS
BACKGROUND
SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY OF THE OIG REVIEW
RESULTS OF THE REVIEW
ATF conducted investigative operations at gun shows only when law enforcement intelligence indicated that significant illegal firearms activity was occurring or was likely to occur at those shows
ATF’s investigations seldom involved operations at gun shows
Although the number of operations at gun shows was low, the operations resulted in multiple arrests, convictions, and firearms seizures
Most investigative operations at gun shows were covert operations that targeted specific individuals suspected of firearms trafficking
Twenty-three percent of ATF’s operations at gun shows targeted local or regional illegal firearms trafficking and only one field division conducted blanket residency checks
Columbus Field Division
Houston Field Division
New Orleans Field Division
Phoenix Field Division
San Francisco Field Division
Washington Field Division: The Richmond operations and residency checks
ATF Special Agents complied with ATF Headquarters’ policy and procedures for planning operations at gun shows
Most gun show promoters and all state and local law enforcement personnel we interviewed supported ATF’s operations at gun shows
Matters for Management Consideration
CONCLUSION