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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Announcements
Our nonprofit journalism on gun violence, safety, and justice is making a difference. Help us expand our impact.
The Trace is pleased to announce that staff writer Brian Freskos and reporter Alain Stephens have been named finalists for the distinguished Livingston Awards for Young Journalists. The honor recognizes outstanding reporting and storytelling by journalists…
As the only news organization exclusively dedicated to covering gun violence, The Trace has a responsibility to ensure that our journalism serves the most affected communities. We’re looking for a talented community editor who can help us do that better,…
Join our team.
The Trace is a finalist for a National Magazine Award for General Excellence in the Special Interest category. The Trace joins The Hollywood Reporter, Atlanta, Audubon, and National Parks on the judges’ shortlist. The honor, announced February 6 by the…
Analysis
We asked 13 experts to help us get a jump on what's ahead.
Data
These are the numbers that advanced our understanding of the issue this year.
Year in Review
16 articles, investigations, and special projects we admired this year.
It’s not news to anyone in Chicago that the city has long struggled with gun violence. We’re hiring a reporter to cover what’s being done, or not, to address the problem. The Trace is the only news organization in America…
The Trace received top awards from two media organizations for its first-ever student journalism reporting project. On September 30, The Trace received the 2019 Global Youth & News Media award for “Since Parkland,” a 10-month reporting collaboration profiling…
The Trace is eager to announce the newest member of its reporting team: Will Van Sant starts this week as a reporter covering the gun lobby. “I’m thrilled to be joining The Trace, which is home to so many talented…
The Trace is a finalist for five 2019 Online Journalism Awards, announced Tuesday by the Online News Association. We’re honored to be in the running for General Excellence in the Small Newsroom category. (Close readers may recall that last…
The Trace has earned honors from two journalism organizations for our investigative reporting and feature writing. On June 3, staff writer Mike Spies received the New York Press Club’s continuing coverage award for his exhaustive reporting on the National…
National Rifle Association
Spies discusses his investigation into financial impropriety at the National Rifle Association.
