Q&A
The Supreme Court has struck down part of New York’s concealed carry law, but our fight for public safety continues. Here’s what you need to know about NYSRPA v. Bruen.
What is the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act?
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act would help keep guns out of the wrong hands and provide critical support to states and communities.
Why the Senate Should Confirm Steve Dettelbach as ATF Director
Shoot First laws, also known as Stand Your Ground laws, are dangerous. How do they encourage violence?
Shoot First laws—also known as Stand Your Ground legislation—are deadly, reckless, and extreme. They give people a license to kill, allowing them to shoot first…
The Gun Lobby’s Dangerous Pursuit of Permitless Carry Across the Country Reaches Louisiana
Right now, people in Louisiana can carry a concealed handgun—but only if they receive a permit that requires a background check and safety…
Is there an armed extreme left?
Of course, there have been individuals and groups with left-leaning ideologies who have perpetrated gun violence in the US. However, readers should avoid false equivalence:…
Why don’t gun lobby groups like the NRA disavow armed extremism?
For decades, the gun lobby has not only enabled access to guns by anti-government and white supremacist extremists through its advocacy against common-sense gun laws,…
Were guns present at the January 6th Capitol insurrection?
The deadly insurrection attempt at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 was fueled, in part, by gun rights extremists who brought their firepower to Washington…
What is the extreme right?
The term “extreme right,” utilized by the Anti-Defamation League, refers to two large, slightly overlapping spheres: the white supremacist and anti-government extremist…
What is armed extremism?
Armed extremism is the use of firearms, primarily by groups on the extreme right, to intimidate, silence, or injure others in the name of ideology.
What is H.R. 8 and how will it close background check loopholes?
Updating federal law to require background checks on all gun sales is a common-sense way to keep guns out of the wrong hands. The…
How can federal agencies take action to prevent gun violence?
Under the Biden Administration, major progress can be made towards ending gun violence. Soon-to-be led by new nominees from President Joe Biden, federal agencies including…
What can the Department of Education do to prevent gun violence?
The Department of Education is instrumental in stopping gun violence in schools. School communities must be provided with tools to prevent school-based gun violence—and…
What can the Department of Justice do to prevent gun violence?
The U.S. Department of Justice is essential in stopping gun violence. Improvements and regulation are needed to keep guns out of the wrong hands,…
What can the Department of Veterans Affairs do to prevent gun violence?
The Department of Veterans Affairs is instrumental in reducing gun suicide among military veterans. With an average of 4,200 veterans dying by gun…
What can the Department of Health and Human Services do to prevent gun violence?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is essential in ending gun violence. With the dual public health crises of COVID-19 and gun…
What is the “boyfriend loophole”?
Federal law prohibits domestic abusers from having guns, but only if they have been married to, have lived with, or have a child with…
Are most gun dealers law-abiding?
A majority of investigations of gun dealers reveal some violations—ranging from failure to keep full and accurate inventory and failing to complete the required forms…
What are hate crimes?
While the legal definition of what constitutes a hate crime varies by states, hate crimes are generally criminal offenses that are motivated by bias…
Who is prohibited from having a gun?
Federal law and state law establish categories of people who cannot legally buy or have guns. These laws vary across the states, but prohibited categories…
How do we keep guns out of the wrong hands?
The foundation of any system to keep guns out of the wrong hands has to start with background check laws. Requiring a background check…
What is the Background Check Loophole?
For more than 25 years, federal law has required background checks on all gun sales from licensed gun dealers. However, federal law does not…
Can states take action to close the Charleston Loophole?
Many states give authorities more than three business days to complete a background check on a potential gun buyer. These state laws take a…
Isn’t gun violence a mental health problem, which requires a mental health solution?
Suggesting that mental health is a driving factor of this country’s gun violence crisis is inaccurate. Research has shown that most people with mental illness…