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.
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Aftershocks
Shooting survivors face physical and psychological recovery, often with little to no help. Could reallocating resources bring healing?
Law Enforcement
City officials have repeatedly blamed gangs for driving up shootings. But analysis shows that the Chicago Police Department’s own data doesn’t back up its leaders' claims.
Miles de personas son víctimas de disparos en el área de Chicago cada año, transmitiendo ondas de conmoción y dolor en toda la ciudad.
Muchas historias acerca de la violencia de Chicago se centran en vecindarios con tasas de homicidios extremas. La experiencia de Roseland en cuanto a vivir entre pérdidas es mucho más común.
El Programa de Compensación a las Víctimas del Crimen de Illinois reembolsa gastos relacionados con lesiones a las víctimas de casi cualquier crimen violento.
Se aprueban menos de cuatro de cada 10 solicitudes del programa de compensación a víctimas del Illinois, según el análisis.
We investigated long-term, systemic shortcomings in the Illinois program. Here are some tips to help you do similar reporting in other parts of the country.
The state's Crime Victim Compensation Program reimburses victims of violent crime for costs related to injury and loss.
A review of thousands of records showed the state program struggles to reach survivors in need, and paid out claims in less than half of all cases.
Less than 40 percent of applicants are compensated, but many more never apply in the first place.
Most stories about violence focus on neighborhoods with extremely high murder rates. Residents of Roseland experience shootings at a more typical pace.
Thousands of people are shot in the Chicago area each year, sending waves of shock and grief throughout the city.
Community Violence
Following The Trace’s reporting on the composition and secrecy of the committee, Mayor Lightfoot has invited more organizations to participate.
How We Fix This
Some anti-violence groups were surprised to learn the task force had met at all. Others want to know why the committee doesn’t include more grassroots programs and community members.
Suicide
Despite the historic increase, city and county leaders have failed to deliver their promised prevention plans.
