Guns from other states used in 44 percent of Md. crimes

New federal crime statistics show that nearly half the guns used in crimes in Maryland last year came from other states.A gun control advocacy group says that makes Maryland one of the largest importers of guns that are recovered by police at crime scenes.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that 44 percent of the guns used in Maryland crimes were brought in from over the state line.

Experts attribute the percentage to Maryland’s tough gun control laws. But the laws don’t stop the illegal gun trade, which presents huge law enforcement challenges. Gun traffickers tend to run small operations, and the people who buy and sell guns on the black market are often sophisticated and hard to catch.

Daniel Webster of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research says police should focus on reducing demand for illegal guns with tight enforcement of gun laws.

Source: Associated Press