Law Enforcement Leaders Urge Congress to Release Crime Gun Data

Yesterday, law enforcement officials urged Congress to repeal the current "Tiahrt Amendment" legislation because it prevents police from accessing crime gun trace data. They cited the information as being invaluable, enabling cities to fight illegal gun trafficking more effectively.

"It is time to stop hiding the evidence that the vast majority of guns used by criminals to prey on our community are coming from a small group of corrupt gun dealers," said Chief Scott Knight of Chaska, Minnesota, who chairs a committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police that studies gun policy. "The only people benefiting from the hiding of this data are the gun traffickers and the dealers who supply them. And the losers are our city's efforts to stop illegal guns."

Thirty-two national and state police organization and 200 individual law enforcement signatories were attached to the letter.

National organizations signing the letter include the International Association of Chiefs of Police; International Brotherhood of Police Officers; Major Cities Chiefs Association; Police Executive Research Forum; Police Foundation; Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA); National Black Police Association; National Latino Peace Officers Association; National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; and the School Safety Advocacy Council.

The House Appropriations Committee is slated to address the issue on June 18.