Armed and Younger: How Emerging Demographics Are Reshaping America’s Gun Crime Landscape

The face of America’s gun crime epidemic is changing and it’s getting younger. New data compiled by Suzuki Law Offices from publicly available ATF trace records shows that younger adults and women are increasingly tied to firearms that later show up at crime scenes. This demographic shift comes as overall trace volumes reach record highs and illicit firearm markets become more accessible than ever before.

A Generational Shift in Gun Traces

Between 2019 and 2021, the share of traced crime guns originally purchased by individuals aged 18 to 24 rose from 21% to 24%, while those aged 25 to 34 increased from 33% to 35%. Meanwhile, the percentage of traced guns linked to purchasers 35 and older dropped from 47% to 42% a trend that appears to have stabilized in recent years.

These figures reveal a critical shift in the pipeline of gun crime. Where older purchasers once dominated trace data, younger adults now account for nearly 60% of all recovered crime guns with identified buyers. This change carries significant implications for firearm applicant policy reform, public safety campaigns, and community intervention programs.

Young Guns and the Time-to-Crime Factor

Perhaps most concerning is how quickly these firearms move from purchase to criminal use. According to Suzuki Law’s analysis, the median time-to-crime (TTC) the period between a gun’s legal purchase and its recovery by law enforcement fell by 50% between 2017 and 2021. After a low of 2.1 years in 2021, TTC rose slightly to 2.9 years in 2023.

Short TTC figures are commonly linked to younger buyers. The study shows that in 2021, 32% of recovered crime guns had been purchased within the prior year, a significant spike from just 20% in 2019. Though that figure returned to 20% by 2023, the cumulative trend suggests a growing class of firearms entering criminal use far more quickly than in previous decades.

The Rise of Female Firearm Purchasers in Crime Traces

Gender data adds another layer to the shifting profile of gun crime in America. From 2017 to 2021, the percentage of female purchasers linked to crime guns rose from 17% to 22% a 31% increase. That figure has remained steady through 2022 and 2023.

While men still account for the majority of firearm traces, the rising share of women among crime gun purchasers is a significant development. It challenges outdated assumptions about gender and gun ownership and may point to changing dynamics in gun access, household firearm storage, or even straw purchasing activity.

Firearm Preferences and Youth Access

Not only are younger adults buying more firearms, but they are also overwhelmingly drawn to one type of weapon: pistols. From 2017 through 2023, pistols accounted for 74.2% of all firearms traced by law enforcement. The most common among them? Glock 9 mm models, which alone made up nearly 12% of all traced crime guns nationwide.

Among younger purchasers, affordability and concealability often drive these preferences. Compact semi-automatics are widely available, easy to carry, and heavily marketed making them the go-to option for both legal and illicit buyers.

A Parallel Rise in Privately Made Firearms

Younger and less traceable firearms go hand in hand. The growing popularity of privately made firearms (PMFs), or “ghost guns,” is especially relevant to this demographic trend. Many PMFs are marketed as kits online and require no background check to purchase.

Suzuki Law’s analysis shows a staggering 1,600% rise in PMF recoveries from 2017 to 2023. These weapons are particularly appealing to younger adults, who may lack purchasing eligibility or prefer the anonymity offered by unregistered kits. In 2023, law enforcement recovered 27,490 suspected PMFs many of which were tied to homicides and other violent crimes.

Youth-Driven Multiple Sale Traces and Shooting Incidents

Younger buyers are also increasingly tied to bulk purchases. Trace requests related to multiple-sale transactions defined as the purchase of more than one firearm at a time rose by 102% between 2017 and 2023. These sales are often linked to illegal resale or trafficking schemes, sometimes targeting younger or first-time buyers as intermediaries.

In parallel, data on repeat use of traced pistols reveals a troubling pattern: roughly 14% of more than 828,000 traced pistols from 2019 to 2023 were involved in multiple criminal events. The majority of these incidents occurred within three years of purchase further emphasizing the short lifecycle of a crime gun today.

What the Trends Suggest for Prevention

This shifting demographic landscape underscores the need for more targeted interventions. Programs aimed at deterring youth firearm access whether through improved safe storage laws, education campaigns, or community policing must reflect the new reality outlined by these statistics.

Similarly, policymakers may need to revisit assumptions about straw purchasing, background checks, and waiting periods, as the data shows increasing involvement by women and younger adults. The gun crime picture of the past no longer reflects the gun crime patterns of today.

Conclusion: A Generation at the Crossroads of Risk and Access

Gun violence in America is no longer the domain of a single demographic. With younger buyers, quicker time-to-crime intervals, and a rise in female purchasers, the emerging trends demand an urgent and nuanced response. The Suzuki Law study provides a foundational roadmap for that understanding now it’s up to lawmakers, advocates, and local communities to use the data wisely.

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