Data

A Decade of American Gun Violence

How The Trace Analyzed a Decrease in Shooting Deaths

Our calculations debunked the myth that big U.S. cities are violence-ridden.

A Decade of American Gun Violence

Shooting Deaths Are Down by 10 Percent Across the U.S., Despite What Politicians Say

The decreases are most pronounced in Democratic-led cities like those that the Trump campaign has painted as centers of violence.

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.

A Decade of American Gun Violence

Permitless Carry Will Deter Shootings, Proponents Said. That’s Not What’s Happened.

A new Trace analysis examines the rate of fatalities in states where permitless carry was made law. Most saw shooting fatalities surge.

Data

Gun Deaths Fell in 2023 — Except Among Kids

While overall gun deaths continued to decline from their post-pandemic peak, child gun deaths rose, and gun suicides hit a record high.

A Decade of American Gun Violence

July Fourth Gun Violence Plummets to a Five-Year Low

The drop in shootings during the holiday follows an overall downward trend since the start of 2024. Still, gunfire injured or killed 245 people over the long weekend.

A Decade of American Gun Violence

What It Took to Analyze a Decade of Shootings Near U.S. Schools

On June 18, we published a story about how frequently shootings happen near schools across the United States. The story was based on our analysis of 10 years of data from the Gun Violence Archive as well as records…

A Decade of American Gun Violence

Just Outside the School Gate, America’s Gun Violence Epidemic Surrounds Its Students

Every day, an average of 57 shootings occur near a school in the United States, according to a new analysis by The Trace.

A Decade of American Gun Violence

Road Rage Shootings Have Surged Over the Past Decade

An analysis by The Trace shows that gunfire on roads and highways is becoming more common as drivers increasingly use firearms to express their anger.

Announcements

Introducing the Gun Violence Data Hub

The Trace is launching an initiative that will help journalists access data on one of America’s most critical — and opaque — public health crises.

In Guns We Trust

The Armed Era

Since the mass shooting at Columbine High School 25 years ago, guns have grown ubiquitous, showing up in grocery stores, airports, and political protests, and encroaching on our lives in new and unprecedented ways.

Analysis

You’re More Likely to Be Shot in Selma Than in Chicago

Over the past decade, gun violence has expanded beyond the urban limits it is so often associated with, according to a Trace analysis of Gun Violence Archive data.

A Decade of American Gun Violence

Here’s How We Analyzed 10 Years of GVA Data

The Gun Violence Archive is an independent organization that gathers information about gun violence via the news, social media, and police reports — and amasses it into a publicly available database. There are limitations to this approach: Not all…

Chicago

​​Illinois Made It Easier for Gun Violence Survivors to Apply for Compensation. Why Aren’t More Chicagoans Finding the Program?

An analysis by The Trace found that legislative changes have resulted in more money going to survivors of violent crime at a faster pace, but the program is still limited by its reach.

Changemakers

Gary, Indiana, Begins to See Fewer Homicides as Community Leaders Band Together

Residents are challenging the city's decades-long reputation for violence as new programs show encouraging results.