The Business of Guns

Gun Wholesalers Are Going Out of Business, Despite Record Sales

The Business of Guns

Gun Wholesalers Are Going Out of Business, Despite Record Sales

Executives from several shuttered firms say that a booming market has not made up for the serious challenges rocking firearm distributors.

Champe Barton
Millions of Guns For Sale. Few Questions Asked.

Longform

Millions of Guns For Sale. Few Questions Asked.

Armslist is one of the easiest ways to buy a gun online — especially if you’re not supposed to have one.

Sean Campbell and Colin Lecher
Facebook Users Continue to Thwart Site’s Ban on Gun Sales

The Business of Guns

Facebook Users Continue to Thwart Site’s Ban on Gun Sales

The Trace found 20 recent listings in which sellers posted gun cases or packaging as a way to hawk firearms.

Champe Barton
What Makes a Gun a Ghost Gun?

Ghost Guns

What Makes a Gun a Ghost Gun?

Everything you need to know about the homemade, untraceable firearms that are increasingly turning up at crime scenes.

Alain Stephens
Despite His Criminal Record, Cody Wilson Is Back in the 3D-Printed Gun Business

Ghost Guns

Despite His Criminal Record, Cody Wilson Is Back in the 3D-Printed Gun Business

After an international manhunt, Wilson pleaded guilty to a felony in Texas court. But the particulars of his deal left him in a legal gray area that allows him to own and work with firearms.

Alain Stephens and Andrew Weber
3D-Printed Gun Group Moves to Tumblr

The Business of Guns

3D-Printed Gun Group Moves to Tumblr

Update, August 28: All content has been removed from IvanTheTroll’s Tumblr account. Tumblr has not responded to a request for comment. Banned by the major social media platforms, the 3D-printed gun community migrated this summer to less-trafficked corners…

Champe Barton
Under Regulators’ Noses, an Online Market for Homemade Gun Silencers Is Booming

The Business of Guns

Under Regulators’ Noses, an Online Market for Homemade Gun Silencers Is Booming

Dozens of online retailers sell de facto silencers, making it easy for gun owners to avoid federal screening and registration.

Champe Barton
Google Promotes Sale of 100-Round Magazine Like the One Used in the Dayton Shooting

Mass Shooting

Google Promotes Sale of 100-Round Magazine Like the One Used in the Dayton Shooting

Google Shopping has a policy against posting gun accessories. But we identified multiple listings for high-capacity magazines.

Alain Stephens and Daniel Nass
El Paso Shooter Coveted ‘Most Lethal’ Rifle Ammunition on the Market

Mass Shooting

El Paso Shooter Coveted ‘Most Lethal’ Rifle Ammunition on the Market

The Russian-developed 8M3 rifle round is known for its ability to expand and fragment on impact, creating catastrophic wounds.

Alain Stephens
As Social Networks Crack Down, 3D-Printed Gun Community Moves to New Platforms

Ghost Guns

As Social Networks Crack Down, 3D-Printed Gun Community Moves to New Platforms

Bans on sharing 3D gun blueprints have proven porous, but the community that makes them is migrating to platforms more amenable to the cause.

Champe Barton
Former NYPD Officer Sues Gunmaker Over Faulty Handguns

The Business of Guns

Former NYPD Officer Sues Gunmaker Over Faulty Handguns

In 2017, Honor Defense was called out by the gun community for making weapons that can fire when dropped. Now a police officer is suing the company after he was shot by his.

Alain Stephens
Senators Urge Consumer Product Safety Commission to Regulate Toy Guns

The Business of Guns

Senators Urge Consumer Product Safety Commission to Regulate Toy Guns

Three Democratic senators sent a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Department of Commerce urging them to adopt new regulations requiring toy and replica guns to look markedly different from their real-life counterparts. The inquiry follows…

Alain Stephens
The Gun Industry Is Betting on Bigger High-Capacity Magazines

The Business of Guns

The Gun Industry Is Betting on Bigger High-Capacity Magazines

The new products can reliably fire 40 or more rounds before requiring reloading. They’re ending up in the hands of mass shooters.

Alain Stephens
Ghost Guns

Twitter Announces New Policy Banning 3D-Printed Gun Files

Three weeks after The Trace reported that Twitter users were freely distributing design files for 3D-printed guns, the social media platform rolled out a new policy prohibiting the practice. The rule change is part of a wide-ranging update…

Sean Campbell
Plans for 3D-Printed Guns Are Still Accessible on Twitter and YouTube

Ghost Guns

Plans for 3D-Printed Guns Are Still Accessible on Twitter and YouTube

The platforms say they don’t allow users to post blueprints or how-tos for building ghost guns. But the files continue to circulate.

Sean Campbell

The Business of Guns

Gun Wholesalers Are Going Out of Business, Despite Record Sales

Millions of Guns For Sale. Few Questions Asked.

Facebook Users Continue to Thwart Site’s Ban on Gun Sales

What Makes a Gun a Ghost Gun?

Despite His Criminal Record, Cody Wilson Is Back in the 3D-Printed Gun Business

3D-Printed Gun Group Moves to Tumblr

Under Regulators’ Noses, an Online Market for Homemade Gun Silencers Is Booming

Google Promotes Sale of 100-Round Magazine Like the One Used in the Dayton Shooting

El Paso Shooter Coveted ‘Most Lethal’ Rifle Ammunition on the Market

As Social Networks Crack Down, 3D-Printed Gun Community Moves to New Platforms

Former NYPD Officer Sues Gunmaker Over Faulty Handguns

Senators Urge Consumer Product Safety Commission to Regulate Toy Guns

The Gun Industry Is Betting on Bigger High-Capacity Magazines

Twitter Announces New Policy Banning 3D-Printed Gun Files

Plans for 3D-Printed Guns Are Still Accessible on Twitter and YouTube