When firearms are found at a crime scene, it is critical for investigators to quickly track down the origin of the weapons and any possible suspects. Law enforcement agencies use eTrace in their investigations, including agencies from 50 foreign countries. eTrace thus allows its users to detect patterns of violent crime across jurisdictions.įirearms trace requests were reviewed, analyzed, and processed by the National Tracing Center in fiscal year 2022. In addition, participating law enforcement agencies can opt to share firearms trace data with all other eTrace users in their state who have also opted to share their data. Authorized users can search eTrace using a variety of fields including gun serial number, type of crime, date of recovery and names of individuals involved. eTrace is used to trace crime guns from their original manufacturer or importer, through the wholesale/retail distribution chain, to the frst person who bought them.įirearms are traced by local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. ETrace is a web-based application that is used to trace the purchase and/or use history of firearms used in violent crimes. The system, available in both English and Spanish, is key in generating investigative leads to help solve violent crimes across the country. These leads help law enforcement agencies quickly identify potential gun traffickers and suspects in criminal investigations.

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