ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 11, 1993                   TAG: 9310110112
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


MARYLAND TAKES OVER AS NO. 1 GUN SOURCE

Virginia was surpassed by Maryland as the single largest source of handguns used in violent crimes in Washington, D.C., in the first seven months of 1993, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Law enforcement officials speculated that the shift resulted from an interdiction operation that began last year aimed at stemming the flow of firearms from Virginia.

But Pat Hynes, the ATF's special agent in charge of the Washington field division, said Virginia re-emerged ahead of Maryland in August and September as the largest source of handguns used in crimes in the District. - Associated Press



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