Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

The Trace

@thetrace.org

16K followers 130 following 1.7K posts

We’re a nonprofit newsroom investigating gun violence in America. Sign up for our newsletters: thetrace.org/newsletter

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

The Trace @thetrace.org · 5h

President Donald Trump has claimed that violent crime is rampant in Democrat-led cities. That doesn’t mean it’s true.

Fact-check Trump yourself. Use our Atlas of American Gun Violence to explore how shooting trends have changed over time, and what they look like today.

Gun Violence Map: How Many People Have Been Shot Near You?

Explore data on more than 434,000 shootings in the United States.

projects.thetrace.org

Reposted by The Trace

Josiah Bates @josiahbates.bsky.social · 13h

@thetrace.org updated its Atlas of American Gun Violence, a detailed, searchable map showing where and when shootings happen across the U.S. An essential tool.

Where Are People Being Shot in America?

The Trace’s Atlas of American Gun Violence has been updated to allow you to search by address, county, congressional district, type of shooting — and to download maps.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 10h

Dr. Tim Kummer responded to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. He wants a ban on assault-style weapons — and a way for Americans to have a healthier conversation about the gun issue.

He Was the First Doctor at the Scene of a School Shooting. Here’s His Idea on Preventing Future Attacks.

Dr. Tim Kummer responded to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. He wants a ban on assault-style weapons — and a way for Americans to have a healthier conversation about the gun issue.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 12h

In our collaboration with the Maine Monitor, the publication zeroed in on how older Mainers are more likely to die by gun suicide than car crashes. The story highlighted our project on the gun suicide crisis among older Americans.

Learn about how the collaboration happened:

Behind the Stories: The High Rate of Suicides Among Older Mainers

Here's how The Gun Violence Data Hub and The Maine Monitor collaborated on a story about the alarming prevalence of gun suicides among older residents in the state.

datahub.thetrace.org

Reposted by The Trace

Brian Freskos @brianfreskos.bsky.social · 14h

Gun dealers have endured years of shrinkage and now face the prospect of a second “Trump Slump” — a calamitous dip in demand that befell the industry after Trump’s 2016 election calmed fears of tighter gun control.

Gun Stores Are Struggling Under Trump

Dealers say the president’s gun-friendly policies have actually hurt their sales. “People have a tendency to want what they feel is under threat," one said.

www.thetrace.org

Reposted by The Trace

Will Van Sant @vansant.bsky.social · 17h

Our Atlas of American Gun Violence is revamped, giving users new ways of exploring the data. Powerful @thetrace.org work.

www.thetrace.org/2025/10/anno...

Where Are People Being Shot in America?

The Trace’s Atlas of American Gun Violence has been updated to allow you to search by address, county, congressional district, type of shooting — and to download maps.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 16h

A few years ago, The Trace launched the Atlas of American Gun Violence, a map that allows users to see where people are being shot around the United States. In the past, the Atlas has had limitations to the search.

In this updated version we’ve tried to improve on those.

Where Are People Being Shot in America?

The Trace’s Atlas of American Gun Violence has been updated to allow you to search by address, county, congressional district, type of shooting — and to download maps.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 1d

Shooting deaths are down 14 percent through three quarters last year, and down 30 percent from the same period in 2021. In fact, we’re on track for the fewest shooting deaths of any year since 2015.

By the Numbers: Gun Violence in Q3

Is gun violence up or down across the U.S.? In our inaugural quarterly analysis, the Gun Violence Data Hub dives into this question.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 1d

Gun sales are down more than 35 percent from a record high in 2020, when pandemic lockdowns and widespread social unrest drove unprecedented crowds to stores.

Retailers worry the president’s gun-friendly policies will continue to hurt sales.

Gun Stores Are Struggling Under Trump

Dealers say the president’s gun-friendly policies have actually hurt their sales. “People have a tendency to want what they feel is under threat," one said.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 1d

In June, former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was assassinated in her home. Weeks later, a shooter opened fire at Annunciation Catholic School. The tragedies have led to an ongoing battle over gun laws in the state.

Read more: thetr.ac/1atOD

The Trace @thetrace.org · 2d

In 2016, the country’s best-known suicide prevention group teamed up with the gun industry to tackle the biggest form of gun death. The effort was good for public relations and raising money, but it never came close to meeting its goal. A trove of internal records shows why: thetr.ac/UgKW6

The Trace @thetrace.org · 2d

In the inaugural edition of our 92 Days In Gun Violence column, data reporter Aaron Mendelson goes over trends in shootings from July through September. Among the noteworthy data points: shooting deaths are down 14 percent through three quarters compared to last year.

Learn more:

By the Numbers: Gun Violence in Q3

Is gun violence up or down across the U.S.? In our inaugural quarterly analysis, the Gun Violence Data Hub dives into this question.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 2d

How violent is Portland, Oregon, the latest Democratic city that President Donald Trump says “has been on fire for years”?

The Trace dug into the numbers and found that gun violence in the city has been plummeting since the pandemic.

Read more: thetr.ac/7O0tj

The Trace @thetrace.org · 3d

Republicans and Democrats in Minnesota have been embroiled in a contentious battle over gun reform since the assassination of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.

Minnesota Lawmakers Are Gridlocked Over Gun Reform

The assassination of a former House speaker, followed by the deadly Annunciation school shooting, has reignited a battle over the state's gun laws.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 3d

As part of his multi-pronged incursion into American cities, President Donald Trump has portrayed Portland, Oregon, as “war-ravaged.” But a Trace analysis found that gun violence in the city has been plummeting since the pandemic.

Here Are the Facts About Gun Violence in Portland

The Trump administration has claimed violent crime is rampant in Oregon’s largest city. A Trace analysis shows that shootings have actually plummeted.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 3d

Firearms dealers say the president’s gun-friendly policies have actually hurt their sales. “People have a tendency to want what they feel is under threat, and this administration has put them at ease a little bit,” one gun store owner said.

Gun Stores Are Struggling Under Trump

Dealers say the president’s gun-friendly policies have actually hurt their sales. “People have a tendency to want what they feel is under threat," one said.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 4d

Even while the Trump administration has boosted gun-friendly policies, sales have continued to slow.

Bulletin: Under Trump, the Gun Industry Loses One of Its Best Sales Tactics

Even while the Trump administration has boosted gun-friendly policies, sales have continued to slow.

www.thetrace.org

Reposted by The Trace

Will Van Sant @vansant.bsky.social · 4d

Gun dealers talk to @champebarton.bsky.social about the drop in demand, what drives sales, and the state of the industry.

Some dealers are seeing folks who bought during the pandemic sales surge now seeking to sell their guns.

www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...

Gun Stores Are Struggling Under Trump

Dealers say the president’s gun-friendly policies have actually hurt their sales. “People have a tendency to want what they feel is under threat," one said.

www.thetrace.org

Reposted by The Trace

Aaron Mendelson @amendelson.bsky.social · 4d

Today, we're debuting a new feature on @thetrace.org called 92 Days in Gun Violence. It's a quarterly update. The big finding thru Q3 is that have been fewer shooting deaths in 2025 than any year in a decade.

Plus more on gun sales, our work, and recent research:
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/shoo...

The Trace @thetrace.org · 4d

The U.S. has experienced 11,197 shooting deaths this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive through September 30, 2025.

If this figure seems high, that’s because it is. But it also represents a sharp decline from recent years.

By the Numbers: Gun Violence in Q3

Is gun violence up or down across the U.S.? In our inaugural quarterly analysis, the Gun Violence Data Hub dives into this question.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 4d

“People have a tendency to want what they feel is under threat, and this administration has put them at ease a little bit.”

Gun sales spiked in 2020, amid pandemic lockdowns and social unrest. But in the five years since, sales have plummeted. Retailers worry a second “Trump Slump” is near.

Gun Stores Are Struggling Under Trump

Dealers say the president’s gun-friendly policies have actually hurt their sales. “People have a tendency to want what they feel is under threat, and this administration has put them at ease a little bit,” one said.

www.thetrace.org

The Trace @thetrace.org · 5d

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has floated a special legislative session to consider gun legislation and school safety.

With the House deadlocked and the state’s Democrats holding a one‑vote edge in the Senate, significant reform runs through the GOP, making new restrictions unlikely.

Minnesota Lawmakers Are Gridlocked Over Gun Reform

The assassination of a former House speaker, followed by the deadly Annunciation school shooting, has reignited a battle over the state's gun laws.

www.thetrace.org

Reposted by The Trace

Will Van Sant @vansant.bsky.social · 5d

Revealing look by @mikespies.bsky.social at a troubled and now abandoned partnership between the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the gun industry's trade group.

Seems it had some success as a PR exercise at least.

www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...

A Program Backed by the Gun Industry Failed to Reduce Suicide — and Was Secretly Shut Down Early

The country’s best-known suicide prevention group teamed up with the gun industry. The effort was good for public relations and raising money, but it never met its goal, and internal records show why.

www.thetrace.org

Reposted by The Trace

Jennifer Mascia @jenmascia.bsky.social · 5d

Claim: President Trump says Portland is "war-ravaged" and "on fire."

Fact-check: Gun violence in Portland has been plummeting since the pandemic — and shootings in the neighborhood around the ICE facility are rare

The Trace @thetrace.org · 5d

The country’s best-known suicide prevention group teamed up with the gun industry. The effort was good for public relations and raising money, but it never met its goal, and internal records show why.

A Program Backed by the Gun Industry Failed to Reduce Suicide — and Was Secretly Shut Down Early

The country’s best-known suicide prevention group teamed up with the gun industry. The effort was good for public relations and raising money, but it never met its goal, and internal records show why.

www.thetrace.org