The programs, policies, and people driving positive change in America’s gun violence problem.
Looking back at the stories we told, and which stuck with us, during an eventful year.
The role of the gun industry in America’s gun violence epidemic.
The National Rifle Association is one of the most powerful special interest groups in America. We’re investigating how it spends its money.
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Brian Freskos is a senior researcher and data analyst for the Conflict Awareness Project. He was previously a Chicago-based staff writer for The Trace, where he covered gun trafficking and community-based violence prevention.
Gun Trafficking
Tracking stolen firearms through the black market, from gun store thefts to crime scenes.
The Industry
The Trace's reporting has shown that JA Industries is largely a clone of Jimenez Arms, which declared bankruptcy in what experts said was an effort to avoid accountability for unscrupulous business practices.
Off Target
David Chipman vowed to continue to advocate for effective gun regulation after he said the White House left him defenseless against a swirl of misinformation and personal attacks.
Law
From bans on large capacity magazines to age restrictions on gun buyers, legal experts point to some of the lower court battles that could leave a lasting imprint on Second Amendment jurisprudence.
Former agent David Chipman has faced a steady drumbeat of allegations since his nomination in April.
The Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act, introduced by House Democrats, would make it easier for the ATF to shut down sellers who break federal regulations.
The White House’s multipronged strategy would require the bureau to revoke the licenses of gun dealers found breaking the law, and encourage cities to use pandemic relief funds for community-led violence intervention.
Philadelphia
Following an investigation by The Trace and USA TODAY, lawmakers are urging the agency to take a tougher line on gun sellers who break federal regulations.
The Trace and USA TODAY’s database of nearly 2,000 ATF inspection reports is a useful tool for reporters, policymakers, and members of the public.
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.
The Business of Guns
The Boulder gunman had recently purchased an AR-556 with a stabilizing brace, an accessory that allows a category of firearms to evade strict federal regulations.
Mass Shooting
The mass shooting at King Soopers supermarket has added fuel to efforts to let cities regulate guns.
After Jimenez Arms went into bankruptcy, the company’s owner tried to revive his gunmaking business under a different name. Now, plaintiffs are trying to compel the ATF to close it down for good.
Coronavirus & Guns
In over a dozen cities, homicides rose by 50 percent or more this year. “It’s very likely that these increases are larger than any on record,” said one criminologist.
The city's decision to enforce a requirement to report lost or stolen guns has opened another front in an intensifying battle against the state's restrictive pre-emption law.
Politics
Lawyers Mark and Patricia McCloskey won hundreds of thousands of dollars for clients injured by faulty handguns.
