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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Law Enforcement
Law enforcement leaders recommend more money for the ATF, stricter gun laws, and sharper focus on the "alarming recent trend of increasing homicides and shootings" in major U.S. cities.
Criminal Justice
His attorney general nominee pledges to increase federal firearms prosecutions — but tools for nabbing traffickers will remain lacking.
Chicago
“These tools are not replacing people,” says Deputy Chief Jonathan Lewin, “but they improve our capacity to do our job."
“These are things that don’t cost money, and that just make sense,” Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin said.
Doubling up on patrols and donning body armor, cops are taking precautions that could complicate crime prevention and community relations.
A protective order did not save Khalid Jabara.
Gary Noesner, the former chief of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit, on the virtues of self-control and active listening.
Data
More than 130,000 sellers weren’t visited at all.
A review of evidence-based strategies for addressing America’s violent crime epidemic can help cities move past knee-jerk responses — and focus on proven solutions.
To reverse a sharp decline in firearm convictions, New York City is pursuing another experiment with specialized gun courts. But making illegal weapons charges stick can be vexingly hard to do.
Domestic Violence
A new study on law enforcement deaths found that domestic disputes are more likely than other scenarios to lead to an officer getting shot. One Massachusetts officer isn’t surprised.
"When it comes time to pull a gun or a trigger, the standards need to be the same from coast to coast."
The Dallas police department is among those embracing a new strategy meant to reduce community conflict. But the rising number of firearms carried by civilians can make de-escalation more difficult.
History
Most of the incidents were shootings.
Tracking a firearm's chain of custody is standard operating procedure for law enforcement — but the agency responsible for handling requests frequently can't answer essential questions.
