ATF urges police to reevaluate reselling used firearms to the public

Federal officials warned police agencies Wednesday about the danger of reselling guns to the public, a widespread practice that a CBS News investigation revealed has led to tens of thousands of former law enforcement weapons being used in crimes — often with fatal consequences.

Now, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is releasing new data about the practice and asking law enforcement agencies to consider that data and reconsider selling their guns.

The report issued Wednesday said that more than 1,000 people were killed with guns that once belonged to U.S. police departments during a 5-year period from 2019 to 2023. That's about four people every week.