Virginia was the source of a disproportionately large percentage of firearms that were used in crimes in other states

In the wake of yesterday’s shooting incident at the University of Texas — in which a student opened fire and then killed himself — gun control is once again at the forefront of public dialogue, and results from a recent study about gun use show that Virginia could be a focal point in the ongoing debate.

The study — which was released Monday and conducted by Mayors Against Illegal Guns using data from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — reveals that in 2009, Virginia was the source of a disproportionately large percentage of firearms that were used in crimes in other states.