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Community Violence
Feds say nearly a third of firearms recovered in the state are homemade, unserialized, and untraceable.
Gun Trafficking
In the wake of a judge's decision to throw out the Mexican government's lawsuit against the gun industry, data shows American companies produce the weapons driving cartel violence.
Ghost Guns
Less than a month after the ATF required serial numbers and background checks for "buy-build-shoot" kits, sellers have found a workaround.
On August 24, the Biden administration’s requirement to serialize ghost guns and require background checks on their sale goes into effect. But the regulation won’t apply to the estimated millions of weapons already in circulation.
How We Fix This
Lawmakers are clamoring for action on auto sears. History leaves clues about what approach the agency might take.
The Trace’s Alain Stephens discusses his latest investigation on Vox’s Today, Explained podcast.
Mass Shooting
As The Trace and VICE News have reported, guns modified with automatic conversion devices have gained popularity throughout the country.
The Business of Guns
With VICE News, we document the rise of the auto sear, a small, cheap device that converts a semiautomatic firearm into an automatic one. Court records show that auto sears have been used in robberies, homicides, and extremist attacks.
For decades, fully automatic weapons were expensive, collectable, and rarely used in crimes. Auto sears, which can cost less than $20 online, have changed that.
The Industry
More than a dozen state attorneys general and a spread of activists, researchers, and district attorneys filed amicus briefs in support of the Mexican government’s case, which accuses U.S. gun companies of fueling cartel violence.
A Michigan prosecutor has drawn attention for charging the alleged Oxford gunman with terrorism, but some observers worry that the approach could have unintended consequences.
American firearms power a brutal conflict that has claimed more than 100,000 lives.
Law Enforcement
At least 245 people have been fatally shot by authorities while in possession of replica firearms in the last six years, according to a Washington Post database.
Extremism
The Not F---ing Around Coalition exploded in popularity at the height of 2020's protests against police brutality.
A June memo by the Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team warns that firearms made from DIY kits and 3D printers are growing in popularity among white supremacist groups.
ATF
If adopted, the rule would require brace owners to apply to the NFA Division, which has long been understaffed and routinely misses its own performance benchmarks.
