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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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.
Biden slams the firearms industry's liability shield at every turn. So why is the DOJ still defending it in court?
Background Checks
A provision to notify local officials when someone fails a federal background check could be the only gun reform measure to hit President Joe Biden’s desk before the midterms.
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.
Law Enforcement
The modern defund movement has roots in Baltimore activism. A new focus on bringing residents into city budgeting could inform the national movement.
Politics
If the Democrat wins the race for NYC mayor, he’ll have to make tough decisions about how much to fund the NYPD versus alternative intervention programs.
Off Target
Chipman's nomination hinged on the decision of Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine. Without King's support, he lacked the votes.
Now up for reelection, Randall Woodfin is struggling to balance police reform with gun violence prevention.
Political headwinds and city's high homicide count are challenging the young mayor's plans to improve public safety.
The Democrats vying for the city's top office are split on how to grapple with rising gun violence and police reform.
ATF
David Chipman’s positions on guns, from The Trace archives.
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.
