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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Ask The Trace
A reader asks about the differences between firearm homicide and suicide rates in the United States and the rest of the world.
Aftershocks
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.
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.
Off Target
Fulfilling even basic FOIA requests can take months or years. Sometimes the agency ignores them altogether.
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.
Use our database to search for law-breaking firearm businesses near you.
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.
Data
Despite the historic increase, city and county leaders have failed to deliver their promised prevention plans.
ATF
The ruling rejects arguments the federal government has used to habitually block the release of figures tracing crime weapons to their prior owners.
Bang for the Buck
We’re tracking the gun group’s 2020 election expenditures in real time.
About 1.6 million guns were sold in September, according to seasonally adjusted estimates.
Coronavirus & Guns
Data shows gun violence outpacing other types of crime in several major cities and running higher than 2019 levels nationally.
A new study from RAND offers several decades of household firearm ownership estimates.
