Alain Stephens

Nov 25, 2024 | thetrace.org | Sunny Sone |Alain Stephens

The Trace Joe Biden’s time in the White House, and likely his time as a public-facing power player in Washington, is nearing its end. As the president’s tenure approaches its close, gun violence prevention advocates and political experts have begun to take stock of his record. Biden made campaign promises on sweeping gun reform, and he entered office with violent crime and gun sales surging. Some of his proposals never materialized, but he also made big swings.

Nov 24, 2024 | thetrace.org | Alain Stephens |Brian Freskos

The Trace President Joe Biden campaigned for the Oval Office on promises of sweeping gun reform. While some of his proposals never materialized, his administration will leave behind a bevy of initiatives meant to aid law enforcement, prevent shootings, and crack down on rogue gun sellers and traffickers. Now, as the president prepares to leave the White House on January 20, gun violence prevention advocates and political experts are taking stock of his record.

Oct 7, 2024 | thetrace.org | Will Van Sant |Alain Stephens

The TraceBy his own account, Dale Sutherland is an avid shapeshifter, assuming the role of drug kingpin, arms dealer, and mafia boss as he led elaborate undercover sting operations for the police in Washington, D.C., during a nearly 30-year career. As a young cop, Sutherland says, he even jabbed needles in his arm so that he could pass as an addict when making drug buys. Much of his most ambitious undercover work was aimed at getting guns off the streets.

Oct 7, 2024 | thetrace.org | Alain Stephens |Chip Brownlee

The TraceThe U.S Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on October 8 to determine whether the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped in effectively outlawing certain kits used to make homemade, untraceable ghost guns.  The dispute in Garland v. VanDerStok arose after the ATF began requiring sellers of “ready to build” ghost gun kits to add serial numbers to some parts and conduct background checks on prospective buyers.

Sep 7, 2024 | homelandsecuritynewswire.com | Alain Stephens

GUNSThe Country’s Biggest Ghost Gun Manufacturer Has ShutteredPublished 7 September 2024As its products increasingly turned up at crime scenes, Polymer80 drew scrutiny from law enforcement and policymakers. Facing mounting legal troubles, Polymer80 — once the country’s largest manufacturer of kits for making homemade, untraceable “ghost guns” — has ceased operations. “P80 was getting sued left and right. Probably twice a month,” the company’s CEO, Loran Kelley Jr., said on social media.