The Trace

After her son was shot in Lansing, Michigan, Sheri Pruitt began assisting grieving families by providing resources for bills and medication. She later worked with Village Lansing and the Lansing Empowerment Network to coordinate a critical response program addressing neighborhood violence. These community efforts have resulted in record declines in shootings across the city, though activists note that current success faces funding instability.

Project Unloaded conducted a study on social media campaigns aimed at gun safety, finding that Snapchat is an effective channel for public health messaging. Analyzing over 2,500 users, the research found that one in six surveyed teens were aware of SNUG, leading to the conclusion that awareness correlated with increased belief in being safer without guns.

Fatal shootings in 2025 fell by five percent, totaling at least 42,348 deaths, marking a six-year low. This overall decrease was largely attributed to a significant drop in gun homicides. Conversely, the number of people who died by suicide with a gun reached a record high of more than 28,000.

A study by Rutgers University researchers suggests GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may reduce links between impulsivity, alcohol use, and violent behavior. The research found associations between impulsivity and violence were 62% weaker among current users compared to former users, while alcohol-related violence was 52% weaker.

The Trace and Block Club Chicago are hiring a full-time Staff Writer to cover gun violence, public safety, and justice in Chicago. The role involves producing 28-32 stories annually, collaborating with Block Club's newsroom, and focusing on accountability reporting, community engagement, and data-driven analysis.

Colin Gray, the father of a 14-year-old who committed a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia in 2024, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for failing to secure the gun used in the attack. Gray, the first parent in the U.S. to be convicted of second-degree murder for providing a gun to their child, gave his son a semiautomatic rifle for Christmas despite prior warnings about the teen's mental health and online threats.

House Democrats criticized a proposed rule allowing direct-to-door gun sales, arguing it weakens federal firearms safeguards. They demanded the ATF analyze public safety impacts and highlighted concerns about online gun purchases bypassing in-person background checks. The rule, part of a 34-proposal reform package, has faced bipartisan debate over its potential effects on public safety.

Krystal Gonzalez, mother of Aaliyah, organized 'Aaliyah Day' in Glen Burnie to honor her daughter, who was killed in a 2020 mass shooting at a Brooklyn Day block party in Baltimore. The event highlighted systemic failures in housing and law enforcement, as lawsuits allege negligence by the Baltimore City Housing Authority. Gonzalez has become an advocate for change, focusing on addressing gun violence and policy missteps.

Stormy Kay, born in 1961 to working-class parents, met Barry Morse, who was married and later convicted of drug offenses and carrying a concealed weapon. They married in prison in 1985, had a son, and faced domestic abuse and legal challenges.

The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom focused on gun violence reporting, is hiring a People and Operations Manager to oversee HR processes, employee engagement, and organizational operations. The role involves managing recruitment, benefits, performance, and compliance while supporting staff growth and improving workflows.

A federal appellate court struck down New Jersey’s assault weapons ban on Second Amendment grounds, marking the first such ruling in a case that could influence similar laws in other states. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals decision, led by Judge Arianna Freeman, cited U.S. Supreme Court precedents as grounds for invalidating the law, potentially affecting Delaware, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and pending cases in Illinois and Connecticut. The Supreme Court will hear challenges to assault weapons bans later this year, with a ruling expected by 2027.

Over 4 million Americans have lost access to SNAP benefits since Congress passed President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law. Experts, including trauma surgeon Dr. Sharven Taghavi, link reduced food assistance to increased gun violence, citing studies showing SNAP expansion correlates with lower firearm injury rates.

Gun violence in the U.S. has significantly decreased in the first half of 2026, with 6,458 shooting deaths and 11,781 injuries, the lowest since 2015. However, gun sales have risen, with 7.3 million firearms sold, and some states like Iowa and New Hampshire saw increases in shooting deaths.

Philadelphia detectives have significantly increased their clearance rates for homicides and nonfatal shootings over the past decade, with homicide clearance rates rising from 45% in 2016 to 82% in 2023. The quick arrest of two 16-year-old suspects in the June 2024 fatal shooting of William 'Billy' Schmidt exemplifies this trend, attributed to reduced homicide rates and advancements in crime-solving technology.

A new report alleges that gun manufacturers like SIG Sauer coordinated with retailers to enforce minimum advertised prices, preventing price competition and inflating profits. Retailer John Kielbasa faced supply cutoffs after lowering SIG Sauer gun prices, highlighting challenges for small businesses in the industry.

Teens in Fort Wayne, Indiana, highlighted widespread exposure to gun violence during a youth-led forum, revealing that most knew individuals killed by gunfire. The event, organized by Alive Community Outreach and Fort Wayne Community Schools, followed recent shootings and aims to address rising violence in Black neighborhoods, despite some declines in juvenile gunshot victims.

Independence Day celebrations in the U.S. saw 139 shootings in 2024, a decline from 153 in 2023, with 35 deaths and 187 injuries reported. The reduction aligns with a broader five-year trend of decreasing gun violence, including a drop in gun deaths from 48,830 in 2021 to 44,447 in 2024. Notable incidents included multiple shootings in Centreville, Mississippi; Brooklyn, New York; and other locations, some linked to celebratory gunfire.

Baltimore's Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), launched in 2022, led to a significant decline in homicides and shootings by 2026, marking the fewest first-half-year homicides since the 1960s. The strategy, combining focused deterrence, community intervention, and sustained leadership, shows a 23% drop in homicides and 2.5% in nonfatal shootings compared to 2025.

The Department of Justice sued Virginia and California to overturn their gun restrictions, including Virginia’s assault weapons ban and California’s prohibition on firearms susceptible to machine gun conversion devices. The lawsuits were filed by the Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment Section, which has initiated multiple similar cases targeting gun laws in other states and territories.

Philadelphia’s gun carry license revocations increased nearly 2.5 times over five years, prompting a federal investigation into the criteria used. The Black Lion Party for International Solidarity, a group conducting armed patrols, had several members’ licenses revoked after a clash with police, with their attorney alleging discriminatory tactics. A proposed Pennsylvania bill aims to prohibit revocations based on 'character and reputation,' criticized as vague.