An article from Bev Fitchett's Guns. Because this question can be approached from different perspectives, Fitchett focuses on guns purchased legally where the legal purchaser turned around and used them to commit to crimes, and firearms that were obtained illegally (although they may have, initially, been purchased legally by someone). An excerpt:
If the question is actually “What percentage of criminals legally buy a gun and commit a crime with it,” the percentage is extremely small. The last data suggests that a fraction of one percent of those who commit a gun related crime will legally purchase a gun and then commit a crime with it. ...
However, if the question is “What percentage of crimes are committed with legally purchased guns” the answer is about six percent of murders – and very few other crimes. ...
The overwhelming majority of gun related crimes are committed with guns that have been stolen, and traded for drugs. Those guns are passed from criminal to criminal, sold and resold, and may very well be used in hundreds of crimes before they are recovered from someone accused of a crime.
He also discusses why it is impossible to clearly answer the question because of the large number of crimes which are never solved, so be sure to read the whole thing.
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