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58-628: The NTC is located on a 10-acre (40,000 m) secure site in Martinsburg, West Virginia . This facility also houses ATF's Violent Crime Analysis Branch, Firearms Technology Branch, Firearms Testing Range, Brady Operations Branch, ATF's Gun Vault Collection, the Federal Explosives Licensing Center, Imports Branch, NFA Branch, and the Federal Firearms Licensing Center. Firearms tracing is the systematic tracking of

116-426: A July daily mean temperature of 75.7 °F (24.3 °C) and 27 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ readings annually. Precipitation is moderate, with winter being the driest period and May thru July the wettest. Extreme temperatures at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport range from −18 °F (−28 °C) on January 21, 1994, up to 112 °F (44 °C) on July 11, 1936; an even colder −19 °F (−28 °C)

174-589: A bi-monthly magazine, Around the Panhandle magazine. The city is home to WEPM/1340 AM , WRNR/740 AM , WICL/95.9 FM , WLTF/97.5 FM , and WVEP/88.9 FM radio stations. Martinsburg is home to W08EE-D Channel 8 ( West Virginia Public Broadcasting ) and WWPX 60 ( ION ), all part of the Hagerstown sub-market that is further grouped under the Nielsen-designated Washington, D.C.-Hagerstown, Md. market,

232-659: A bilingual version (eTrace 4.0) of eTrace allowing firearm traces in Spanish or English which has been deployed in Guatemala, Costa Rica and throughout Mexico. Recently, according to a 2016 GAO report, in 2013, Mexico restricted eTrace access solely to the Mexican Attorney General Office. Foreign countries currently using eTrace include: Albania, Finland, Spain, Suriname, and the United Kingdom. Before 1991, ATF kept

290-603: A computerized "index" (based on firearm serial number and dealer license number) to the microfilmed Out-of-Business records. Data was originally captured on minicomputers and transferred to a mainframe computer database. The retrieval system, called "CARS" (Computer Assisted Retrieval System), was disclosed in a 1995 letter to Tanya K. Metaksa of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). By 2000, ATF revealed they had indexed 100 million such records, with over 300 million additional records scheduled to be added over

348-574: A firearm is recovered and selected to be traced"; and (3) "a substantial percentage of recovered firearms cannot be successfully traced for several reasons including poor recordkeeping by FFLs." The ATF describes the firearms trace database as "an operational system designed to aid in ongoing investigations, rather than a system to capture 'crime gun' statistics." Despite these limitations, the CRS report notes "combined with multiple handgun sales reports and other investigative data, firearm trace data have proven to be

406-557: A horse and had it swim across the freezing Potomac River. After riding forty miles, he walked in cold wet clothes for two days, to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania . He received assistance there from the Underground Railroad and traveled by train to Philadelphia , and the office of William Still with the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society . Brown's wife and four children had been sold; he sought help to find them. He had

464-401: A law enforcement agency or prosecutor in connection with a criminal investigation. This precludes gun trace data from being used in academic research of gun use in crime. Additionally, the law blocks any data legally released from being admissible in civil lawsuits against gun sellers or manufacturers. Some groups, including Mayors Against Illegal Guns , believe that having further access to

522-648: A likeness of his wife, and locks of hair from each of them. In 1854, ten-year-old Isabelle Boyd , known as "Belle" and later a noted spy for the Confederacy, moved to Martinsburg with her family, where her father Benjamin operated a general merchandise store. After the Civil War began, Benjamin joined the Second Virginia Infantry, which was part of the Stonewall Brigade. His wife Mary was thus in charge of

580-590: A part of the Veterans Administration (VA). The VA Medical Center in Martinsburg still provides care to United States veterans. Due to restructuring beginning in the late 1940s and continuing through the 1970s, many of the mills and factories operating in Martinsburg shut down and went out of business, dealing a major blow to the local economy. Jobs were moved to the Deep South and later offshore. Martinsburg

638-460: A viable tool for ATF in targeting regulatory and investigative resources with greater effect." [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States government . Martinsburg, West Virginia Martinsburg is a city in and the county seat of Berkeley County, West Virginia , United States. The population was 18,773 at

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696-454: Is a de facto system of registration of firearms, firearm owners and firearm transaction specifically prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 926(a). By March 2004, ATF acknowledged the existence of their advanced automated Microfilm Retrieval System (MRS) containing information on 380 million firearms with an additional 1 million firearms added per month. This system had been enlarged from the previous system (CARS) to contain not only firearm serial numbers, but

754-560: Is an ATF computer system which provides on-line trace submission through the internet, and provides the utilities for submitting, retrieving, storing, and querying all firearms trace related information relative to the requestor's agency. Distribution of eTrace to law enforcement began in January 2005. As of February, 2015, more than 5,600 U.S. law enforcement agencies and 41 foreign countries use eTrace. More than 360,000 trace requests were processed in fiscal year 2014. In December 2009, ATF released

812-428: Is approximately 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Hagerstown , 73 miles (117 km) west of Baltimore , 63 miles (101 km) northwest of Washington, D.C. , and 134 miles (216 km) east of Morgantown . U.S. Route 11 runs through the center of town, and Interstate 81 passes along the northern side of the town. Martinsburg is 212 miles (341 km) distant from the state capital of Charleston. However, it

870-478: Is closer to no less than five other state capitals: Harrisburg PA - 80 miles (130 km), Annapolis MD - 85 miles (137 km), Dover DE - 132 miles (212 km), Richmond VA - 135 miles (217 km), and Trenton NJ - 179 miles (288 km). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 6.67 square miles (17.28 km ), of which 6.65 square miles (17.22 km )

928-748: Is home to two hospitals, namely the Berkeley Medical Center and the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center . Tiahrt Amendment The Tiahrt Amendment ( / ˈ t iː h ɑːr t / TEE -hart ) is a provision of the U.S. Department of Justice 2003 appropriations bill that prohibits the National Tracing Center of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from releasing information from its firearms trace database to anyone other than

986-638: Is illegally possessed, used in crime, or suspected to have been used in crime. An abandoned firearm may also be categorized as a crime gun if it is suspected it was used in a crime or illegally possessed. Under this definition, most, but not all, traced firearms are 'crime guns.'" The CRS report notes certain methodological limits on firearms trace data: (1) traced firearms are generally those recovered by law enforcement, and so "may not be representative of firearms possessed and used by criminals" more generally; (2) "there remains significant variation over time and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as to 'when, why, and how'

1044-428: Is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km ) is water. Martinsburg lies in the transitional area between humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ) and humid continental climatic zones (Köppen Dfa ), with four distinct seasons. Winters are cool to cold, with a January daily mean temperature of 32.4 °F (0.2 °C) and an average annual snowfall of 26.1 inches (66 cm), while summers are hot and humid with

1102-564: Is located downtown at 229 East Martin Street. MARC , Maryland's commuter rail system, operates trains on weekdays on its Brunswick Line which terminates in Martinsburg. Service is provided to Washington Union Station in Washington, D.C. Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority (EPTA) operates public bus transit routes in Martinsburg, surrounding Berkeley County, and neighboring Jefferson County, West Virginia . Eastern WV Regional Airport , south of

1160-462: Is the main north–south highway through the region. I-81 connects northward to Hagerstown and Harrisburg , and continues southward to Winchester and Roanoke . U.S. Route 11 , the former primary regional north–south highway, now serves as a local service road to I-81, and travels through downtown Martinsburg. The main highway serving regional east–west travel is West Virginia Route 9 . From Martinsburg eastwards, WV 9 follows an expressway, connecting

1218-642: The 2020 census , making Martinsburg the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and the sixth-most populous city in the state. It is a principal city of the Hagerstown–Martinsburg metropolitan area extending into Maryland , which had 293,844 residents in 2020. Martinsburg was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly that was adopted in December 1778 during

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1276-710: The International Brotherhood of Police Officers , the Police Executive Research Forum , the Police Foundation , the chiefs of police of nearly every major city in California, and others. On the other hand, it is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police , which says it is "concern[ed] for the safety of law enforcement officers and the integrity of law enforcement investigations. For example,

1334-705: The ATF database would help municipal police departments track down sellers of illegal guns and curb crime. These groups are trying to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment. Numerous police organizations oppose the Tiahrt Amendment, such as the Major Cities Chiefs Association (which represents the 69 largest police departments in the United States), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP),

1392-543: The American Revolutionary War. Founder Major General Adam Stephen named the gateway town to the Shenandoah Valley along Tuscarora Creek in honor of Colonel Thomas Bryan Martin , a nephew of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron . Aspen Hall , a Georgian mansion, is the oldest house in the city. Part was built in 1745 by Edward Beeson, Sr. Aspen Hall, and its wealthy residents had key roles in

1450-647: The Berkeley County Museum. It is also known as the Belle Boyd House. Residents of West Virginia were split in their allegiance during the war, with half of its soldiers serving in the Confederate army. The vote to create a new state in western Virginia was very low, but statehood was approved by Congress and President Lincoln, and the new state was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863. The city of Martinsburg

1508-469: The Boyd home when Union forces under General Robert Patterson took Martinsburg. When a group of Patterson's men tried to raise a Union flag over the Boyd home, Mary refused. One of the soldiers, Frederick Martin, threatened Mary, and Belle shot him. She was acquitted. She soon became involved in espionage, sending information to Confederate generals Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and J.E.B. "Jeb" Stuart . Often she

1566-586: The Department of Justice, the records, or any portion thereof, of acquisition and disposition of firearms maintained by Federal firearms licensees: In the 2008, Appropriations Bill, the Tiahrt Amendment further restricted the disclosure of data from the Firearms Tracing System. According to a Congressional Research Service report issued in 2009, "ATF has defined 'crime gun' to mean any firearm that

1624-636: The Out-of-Business records in paper hard copy filed at the Out-of-Business Records Center. In 1991, they began a major project to microfilm the paper records and destroy the hard copy. This project not only included the licensee's "Bound Book" (Acquisition/Disposition records), but also every ATF Form 4473, which contains name, address, height, weight, race, date of birth, place of birth, and driver's license number (or other ID). (GAO Report T-GGD-96-104, 04/25/96) In 1992, ATF began creating

1682-399: The age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.7% were non-families. Of all households, 35.4% were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size

1740-537: The agricultural, religious, transportation, and political history of the region. Significant events related to the French and Indian War , the Revolution, and the Civil War took place on the property. Three original buildings are still standing, including the rare blockhouse of Mendenhall's Fort. The first United States post office in what is now West Virginia was established at Martinsburg in 1792. At that time, Martinsburg and

1798-403: The average family size was 2.92. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median income for a household in the city

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1856-470: The city to Charles Town and Leesburg . WV 9 follows US 11 through downtown Martinsburg. To the west, WV 9 continues to Berkeley Springs and Paw Paw . West Virginia Route 45 is the other state highway serving Martinsburg. WV 45 extends westward into rural areas of western Berkeley County, and continues eastward to Shepherdstown . Amtrak provides service to Martinsburg on its Washington-Chicago Capitol Limited route. The city's passenger rail station

1914-413: The city, handles general aviation and Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base is located at this airport. The closest airport with commercial air service is Hagerstown Regional Airport , that is about 25 miles (40 km) driving distance north. The closest international airport is Washington Dulles International Airport near D.C., which is about 60 miles (97 km) driving distance east. Martinsburg

1972-423: The city. The population density was 2,977.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,149.6/km ). There were 7,432 housing units at an average density of 1,478.0 per square mile (570.7/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 83.9% White , 11.6% African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.9% Asian , 0% Pacific Islander , 1.3%% from other races , and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of

2030-785: The conversion of tens of thousands of existing Federal firearms dealer out-of-business records from film to digital images at the ATF National Tracing Center. Once the out-of-business records are fully converted, search time for these records will be reduced significantly. The conference agreement includes $ 4,200,000 for the ATF to hire additional contract personnel to continue the conversion and integration of records. However, according to guns rights advocates, Appropriations Bills since 1979 have prohibited centralizing these same records: Provided, That no funds appropriated herein shall be available for salaries or administrative expenses in connection with consolidating or centralizing, within

2088-401: The disclosure of trace requests can inadvertently reveal the names of undercover officers or informants, endangering their safety. It may also tip off the target of an investigation." The Tiahrt Amendment is also supported by the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), which says that undoing the Tiahrt Amendment would lead to a rash of lawsuits against gun dealers. The Tiahrt Amendment

2146-646: The following two years. Over 400 million firearm transaction records were to be indexed by 2002 – about twice the total estimated number of firearms in the United States at that time. According to gun rights advocates, which have long opposed any centralized, searchable registry of firearms sales, and notwithstanding the conclusions of the Government Accounting Office in 1996 that this system complied with legislative restrictions, this combination of automated and manual retrieval of individual sales records

2204-573: The larger territory were still part of Virginia . The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) reached Martinsburg in 1842. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops were constructed in 1849 and rebuilt after the American Civil War. According to William Still , "The Father of the Underground Railroad " and its historian: Mr Robert Brown, alias Thomas Jones, escaped from slavery in Martinsburg on Christmas night in 1856. He rode

2262-602: The longest-made known cars to be built in the state of West Virginia. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Hack Wilson began his storied professional career in his adopted hometown with the Martinsburg Blue Sox , a low-level minor-league baseball team. Wilson would go on to set the yet-to-be-broken major league record for RBI in a season (191) with the Chicago Cubs in 1930. After his playing career ended in 1935, Hack went back home to Martinsburg, played some ball with

2320-421: The manufacturer and importer as well. Additional data fields have been added to help identify specific firearms. More recently (since at least 2005), ATF has been converting microfilmed dealer out-of-business records to "digital images". It is not clear whether this is a digitized "picture" file of the microfilm, or a digital record of each individual acquisition/disposition. However, guns rights advocates take

2378-418: The movement of a firearm recovered by law enforcement officials from the first sale by the manufacturer or importer through the distribution chain (wholesaler/retailer) to the first retail purchaser. Comprehensive firearms tracing is the routine tracing of every gun recovered within a geographic area or specific law enforcement jurisdiction. The ATF computer system used for firearms tracing is eTrace . eTrace

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2436-455: The ninth largest market in the nation. Martinsburg was the setting of the X-Files episode " Small Potatoes " (Season 4, episode 20). However, the filming did not take place in the vicinity. Martinsburg was also the setting for the reality television series Gypsy Sisters on TLC . Martinsburg is served by several significant highways. The most prominent of these is Interstate 81 , which

2494-476: The planned digitization of Out-of-Business dealer, importer, and manufacturer records, mentioned the projected cost, and noted it would not require any legislative or regulatory changes. Shortly thereafter, the digitization project appeared in the Congressional Appropriations Bill. From the 2005 Appropriations Bill: Conversion of Records. The conferees recognize the need for ATF to complete

2552-409: The population. There were 6,684 households, out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and

2610-553: The position that, regardless of the storage method, and whether access to the detail A/D record is automated or manual, this system is a system of registration of firearms, firearm owners and firearm transactions prohibited by 18 U.S.C. 926(a). In a paper presented to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva, Switzerland, published in 2003, Gary L. Thomas, Chief, Firearms Programs Division, ATF, discussed

2668-560: The time these troops had restored order, the protest of the rail company had spread across the country. Telephone service was established in Martinsburg in 1883. In 1889, electricity began to be furnished to Martinsburg as part of a franchise granted to the United Edison Manufacturing Company of New York. The Interwoven Mills began operations in Martinsburg in 1891. Construction of the Apollo Civic Theatre

2726-485: The town's semipro team and opened a recreation and pool hall in town with a partner. He later moved to Baltimore in 1941 where he later died November 23, 1948. Originally scheduled to be interred in Baltimore, Wilson was buried — in a donated plot — in Martinsburg, Martinsburg has one daily community newspaper, The Journal and also is regionally covered by The Herald-Mail out of Hagerstown, Maryland . Martinsburg has

2784-744: The two Enterprise Computing Centers of the Internal Revenue Service (the other is in Memphis, Tennessee ), processes most of the country's electronically filed tax documents from businesses , and about one-third of electronically filed tax returns . The area is also home to the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard , based in Eastern WV Regional Airport . Martinsburg had its own automobile company from 1912 to 1922, called Norwalk, which assembled

2842-470: Was $ 29,495, and the median income for a family was $ 36,954. Males had a median income of $ 29,697 versus $ 22,212 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 16,314. About 14.7% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over. Major private employers in and around Martinsburg include Quad/Graphics , Ecolab , Orgill, Macy's , and FedEx . In February 2015, it

2900-472: Was 2,590.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,000.2/km ). There were 8,408 housing units at an average density of 1,264.4 per square mile (488.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 77.5% White , 14.9% African American , 0.4% Native American , 1.2% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 2.3% from other races , and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of the population. There were 7,293 households, of which 29.6% had children under

2958-400: Was 3.00. The median age in the city was 37 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 14,972 people, 6,684 households, and 3,689 families residing in

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3016-404: Was 4.8% of the population. The median household income (in 2019 dollars) was $ 42,835. The per capita income was $ 24,970. 29.5% of the population is recorded as being in poverty. 88.5% of households had a computer, with 77.9% having access to broadband internet. As of the census of 2010, there were 17,227 people, 7,293 households, and 4,106 families residing in the city. The population density

3074-497: Was announced that Procter & Gamble planned to build a $ 500 million facility near the city. The city also has numerous federal government employers, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Coast Guard C5ISC-Kearneysville, U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives , and the Martinsburg VA Medical Center . The Martinsburg IRS Facility, one of

3132-508: Was completed in 1913. Over one thousand (1,039) men from Berkeley County participated in World War I. Of these, forty-one were killed, and twenty-one were wounded in battle. A monument to those who fell in battle was erected in Martinsburg in 1925. During World War II, the Newton D. Baker Hospital in Martinsburg treated thousands of soldiers wounded in the war. In 1946 this military hospital became

3190-518: Was first added by Todd Tiahrt (R-KS, after whom it is named) to the 2003 federal appropriations bill . It was signed into the law as part of this bill on February 20, 2003. It was subsequently broadened in October 2003 with the addition of two provisions banning the ATF from requiring gun dealers to inspect their firearm inventories and requiring the FBI to destroy background check data within 24 hours. In 2004, it

3248-542: Was helped by Eliza Corsey, a Boyd family slave whom Belle had taught to read and write. In 1863, Belle was arrested in Martinsburg by the Union Army and imprisoned. Boyd's Greek Revival home, which he had built in 1853 and sold in 1855, had numerous owners over the decades. In 1992 it was purchased by the Berkeley County Historical Society. The historical society renovated the building and now operates it as

3306-451: Was incorporated by an act of the new West Virginia Legislature on March 30, 1868. Martinsburg became a center of the railroad industry and its workers. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 began July 14, 1877, in this city at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops . After several unsuccessful attempts to quell the protests, Governor Henry M. Mathews called for federal troops. By

3364-424: Was recorded in the city on January 14, 1912. As of the census of 2020, there were 18,777 people residing in the city, living in 7,179 total households. The population density was 2,591.7 inhabitants per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 79.9% White , 13.9% African American , 0.1% Native American , 1.3% Asian , 0.0% Pacific Islander , and 3.1% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race

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