A series of statistics, charts and graphs about the topic are now available on OpenJustice, the department's open data website, CalDOJ announced Wednesday. Among the notable findings:
- Sacramento County led among all counties in the growth of gun sales between 2001 and 2015, rising more than 400 percent. Gun purchases have been increasing in every county, according to the data.
- Residents of Shasta and Colusa counties by the most guns per capita compared to other counties in California.
- Gun sale transactions increased 250 percent between 2007 and 2013, topping out at nearly 954,000 in that year before falling to about 892,000 in 2015.
- In recent years, people are increasingly buying new guns versus used guns (in 2015, 72 percent new and 28 percent used).
“The dramatic spike in gun sales over the last 10 years reflects the continued need for smart and sensible gun safety laws,” California Attorney General Kamala Harris said Wednesday. “Today's release is a continuation of my commitment to transparency and the implementation of informed data-driven public policy. This unprecedented release of firearms sales data will allow us to better understand trends and to keep our communities safe.”
Cal DOJ launched its OpenJustice website in 2015. The website presents data on arrests and crime rates, crimes and clearances, officers deaths and assaults, and other data. Last month the governor signed the OpenJustice Data Act of 2016, which will require local law enforcement agencies to report more data electronically to the state. Concurrently, the Department of Justice announced a new all-digital data collection platform that law enforcement agencies will use next year to report officer-involved shootings and other police “use of force” incidents.
Reporting from Samantha Young contributed to this report.
