Q&A
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/dating partner loophole”?
Federal law prohibits domestic abusers who are subject to restraining orders or those who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence…
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 30 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…
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…
What is an assault weapon?
Although existing state laws use varying definitions for what constitutes an assault weapon (often determined by the presence of certain features), assault weapons are…
Are cities inherently dangerous?
Although gun violence is primarily concentrated in cities, cities are becoming increasingly safer. Violence in cities persists, but it remains concentrated within small social…
How many states require a person to obtain a permit before carrying a loaded, concealed handgun in public?
The states shown below require a person to have a permit to carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public. Most of those states require…
What is permitless carry?
Permitless carry is a dangerous policy that allows civilians to carry concealed, loaded guns in public without a permit. Removing the permit requirement…
What are background checks?
Federal law prohibits certain categories of people from having guns, including felons, domestic abusers, and people with certain mental health histories. Background checks…
Are high-capacity magazines prohibited under federal law?
In 1994, Congress enacted a prohibition on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, but it expired in 2004. Despite public support, the prohibition was…