The ATF, charged with policing the gun industry, lets dealers get away with falsifying records and selling firearms without background checks.
The programs, policies, and people driving positive change in America’s gun violence problem.
American lives, shaped by guns.
The National Rifle Association is one of the most powerful special interest groups in America. We’re investigating how it spends its money.
Our team, our mission, our partners, and more. Plus: How to contact us.
We report stories that would go untold. Generous readers sustain our work.
Sign up now to get our latest stories and eye-opening briefings.
Community Violence
Feds say nearly a third of firearms recovered in the state are homemade, unserialized, and untraceable.
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.
Gun Trafficking
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.
Ghost Guns
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.
Off Target
Fulfilling even basic FOIA requests can take months or years. Sometimes the agency ignores them altogether.
If confirmed, David Chipman will be in charge of reforming an agency that has repeatedly come under fire for going easy on gun sellers who break the law.
In a sweeping investigation, The Trace and USA TODAY found the federal agency charged with policing the gun industry let dealers get away with falsifying records and selling firearms without background checks.
