The Knowledge Gap

Politics

Major Gun Violence Research Center Threatened by Proposed Cuts

Governor Phil Murphy’s move to slash a New Jersey research hub comes as the state braces for leaner budgets under the Trump administration.

Politics

CDC Teams That Study Gun Violence and Collect Data Are Decimated by Layoffs

The Trump’s administration’s cuts come after the field of gun violence research saw renewed federal support during the Biden era.

Community Violence

Young Black Men Who Carry Guns Provide Insights Into Preventing Violence

In a new study, researchers explore how perceptions of safety lead people to believe they need guns for survival.

Elections

Kamala Harris’s Comments About Gun Ownership Belie the Risks, Researchers Say

Studies have consistently found that having a gun at home increases a person’s risk of homicide, suicide, and accidental shootings.

Data

In 2019, Congress Finally Funded Gun Violence Research. Here’s How It’s Changed the Field

A Trace analysis of federal data found that the amount of money going to gun violence studies has soared since lawmakers lifted a de facto federal funding ban.

Missing Pieces

Lost and Stolen Guns Are More Likely to Be Used in Crimes, Study Finds

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, analyzed millions of gun sales records to show how legally acquired guns make their way onto the black market.

Politics

Discredited Gun Researcher’s Justice Department Post Raises Alarms About Future of Crime Statistics

John Lott has a mysterious new federal job that may allow him to shape the crime data that is released to the public.

National Rifle Association

Study Confirms Medical Associations Give More to Pro-Gun Politicians

In recent years, medical professionals have jumped into the debate over gun policy. In 2015, doctors’ groups issued a call to action on reducing firearm violence. Last year, hundreds more doctors joined the #ThisIsOurLane push against the National…

How We Fix This

States Are Funding the Gun Violence Research the Feds Won’t

The trend reflects a growing willingness among legislators to invest in a better understanding of the issue.

Mass Shooting

Photos of School Shooters Dominate Coverage, While Victims Go Overlooked

A new study of newspapers’ coverage of school shootings finds that images of suspects outnumber images of victims 16 to 1.

The Knowledge Gap

With $5 Million from the NIH, a Team of Researchers Will Study Ways to Prevent Child Gun Deaths

A $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health is bringing together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from across the country to develop ways to prevent and reduce firearm injuries and deaths in children.The award represents the largest NIH…

The Knowledge Gap

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Gun Violence in America?

Polls underscore a paradox when it comes to Americans and gun violence: Even before the horrors of Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, surveys showed that mass shootings leave many of us feeling scared and concerned. But research…

The Knowledge Gap

Alcohol Abuse Is a Major Predictor for Gun Crime

A third of firearm buyers with prior alcohol convictions went on to commit a violent or firearm-related offense, a new study finds.

Data

People Who Commit Gun Crimes are Likely to Have Been Shot Before, New Study Finds

Experts say understanding the connection could help break the cycle of violence.

The Knowledge Gap

Gun Violence Researchers Cheer Rare Federal Funding

But they say “we shouldn’t kid ourselves” that the $3 million in Justice Department grants are enough to close a yawning knowledge gap.