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.
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Ghost Guns
Under the new policy all firearms, including 3D-printed guns, must have serial numbers.
Extremism
New York has a red flag law, but it wasn’t invoked.
Community Violence
Civil liberties advocates worry the NYPD is repeating the mistakes it made with its gangs list — and that innocent people are being tracked without even knowing it.
Gun Policy
The Biden administration is expected to detail its gun violence policy team for the first time. The move comes after reform groups questioned whether the staffing plan is sufficient to drive change.
Ask The Trace
A reader asks about a provision in the new Violence Against Women Act that requires the federal government to notify local officials when someone fails a background check.
Biden slams the firearms industry's liability shield at every turn. So why is the DOJ still defending it in court?
Reform groups are urging the president to create a federal office to coordinate efforts to address shootings. But he continues to avoid the subject.
An increase in gun violence poses a political challenge for new Mayor Eric Adams.
Gun reform advocates who supported Biden have been frustrated by the president’s failure to get any significant reform legislation through a Democratic Congress.
In Oxford's home state, Republicans have had a lock on the statehouse for decades, stymieing reforms despite broad public support.
The Industry
The development comes after an investigation by The Trace and NBC Bay Area found police are violating state law by not logging guns into the database so they can be traced.
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
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.
How We Fix This
The Oregon county that encompasses Portland is one of the first local governments to tap the new federal stimulus to reduce shootings.