From 2017 to 2021, over one million firearms were reportedly stolen by private citizens in the U.S., with Louisiana having the third highest rate of firearm theft.
Guns are most commonly stolen from vehicles, with many frequently burglarized from homes and some taken directly from a person, says Stateline.
While many stolen guns are often linked to violent crime, most stolen firearms end up being sold on the black market, ending up in the hands of individuals likely prohibited from owning firearms, says Everytown Research & Policy.
How often are guns stolen in Louisiana? Number of firearms stolen annually
Records indicate that an average of 7,170 firearms were reported stolen from private citizens in Louisiana each year between 2017 and 2021, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
This means about 155 guns are stolen per every 100,000 residents, making Louisiana the third most among states for stolen firearms, says L’Observateur.
What is the most common stolen firearm in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, handguns, especially semi-automatic pistols, are the most commonly stolen type of firearm, making up more than 70% of firearm thefts, New Orleans City Business reported.
Additionally, a large percentage of stolen firearms that have been recovered in Louisiana were pistols, according to data from the ATF, with 9mm, .40 caliber and .22 caliber being the most common calibers traced in Louisiana.
An ATF official fires a semi-automatic gun that has been modified using a a 3D printed gun conversion device that enables a lawful semi-automatic firearm to become an illegal fully automatic firearm with $0.40 worth of plastic, in a test firing range at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Services Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, September 4, 2024. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
What is the penalty for stealing a firearm in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, the penalty for theft of a firearm, for a first offense, is imprisonment with or without hard labor for not less than two years nor more than ten years, without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and a fine of one thousand dollars, according to Louisiana State Legislature.
For a second offense, the penalty for theft of a firearm is imprisonment with or without hard labor for not less than five years nor more than fifteen years, without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and a fine of two thousand dollars, says Louisiana State Legislature.
For third and subsequent offenses, the penalty for theft of a firearm is imprisonment at hard labor for not less than fifteen years nor more than thirty years, without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and a fine of five thousand dollars, according to Louisiana State Legislature.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: How many guns are stolen in Louisiana annually? Third highest rate
