guns

Even as violent crime and property crime rates are falling, many Americans are choosing to arm themselves for safety reasons.

National

Does Carrying A Pistol Make You Safer?

8:49am April 12, 2016

by John Burnett

Even as violent and property crimes fall, more Americans are carrying concealed handguns. Many think having a gun makes them safer, but the decision to shoot is a serious one with grave consequences.

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A murder victim at the morgue in the northern Brazilian city of Natal. Brazil has close to 60,000 murders a year, the highest number in the world, according to officials there. Though most victims are shot to death, some lawmakers are pushing to ease gun

World News

Brazil Has Nearly 60,000 Murders, And It May Relax Gun Laws

4:25pm March 28, 2016

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Though gun violence takes a huge toll in Brazil, there's a push to relax gun laws. And many of the arguments are similar to the ones in the U.S.

Two women compare handgun holsters during an open-carry rally at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Jan. 1.

National

Gun-Toting Women Give Rise To Firearms Fashion Accessories

2:08pm January 28, 2016

by Lauren Silverman

Texas' open-carry law is now in effect, but many women prefer to keep their weapons concealed. A growing industry is meeting a range of gun fashion needs, from bra holsters to luxury handbags.

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William Gordon, left, helps Steve Wrona as he looks at guns while visiting the K&W Gunworks store in Delray Beach, Fla., on Tuesday, the day President Obama announced executive action on guns.

Research Suggests Gun Background Checks Work, But They're Not Everything

10:05am January 09, 2016

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Recent studies have found that background checks can help curb gun violence. In recent shootings, though, evidence is tougher to see.

A screen shot of Armstlist.com, a website where you can buy and sell guns online.

Obama Aims To Expand Background Checks To Online Gun Sales

6:23pm January 06, 2016

by Joel Rose

Gun control advocates say that will tighten a big loophole allowing guns to change hands illegally. Gun rights groups say the president's executive order will mostly penalize law-abiding gun owners.

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Andy Raymond demonstrates the Armatix iP1, a .22 caliber smart gun that has a safety interlock at Engage Armaments, May 1, 2014, in Rockville, Md.

National

Will Obama's Action Create A Market For 'Smart' Guns?

4:13pm January 05, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

Supporters of "smart" gun technology hope that President Obama's initiative will prompt federal agencies to put in big purchase orders, unleashing the new market. Will it make us safer?

Obama Administration To Announce Executive Actions On Guns

5:08am January 05, 2016

by Scott Horsley

Intended to combat gun violence, the actions include a regulatory change designed to make it harder for gun buyers to avoid background checks.

Activists held an open carry rally at the Texas state capitol on Jan. 1, 2016 in Austin, Texas.

National

Texas Businesses Adapt To Open-Carry Law

7:14pm January 02, 2016

by NPR Staff

A new law in Texas allows the open carry of handguns. Some business owners, like restaurateur Jack Perkins, are apprehensive.

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In this handout photo provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, four guns are seen near the site of a shootout between police and suspects. The shooters left 14 people dead and 21 others wounded.

National

'Straw Buyers' Of Guns Break The Law — And Often Get Away With It

3:09pm December 10, 2015

by Hansi Lo Wang

They break the law by fraudulently filling out a form that says they're the actual buyer, but they're really buying the gun for another person — someone who might be avoiding a background check

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National

The U.S. Has A Mass Shooting Epidemic, But No Government Database On Gun Violence

10:08am December 10, 2015

In 2012, journalist Mark Follman searched for comprehensive data about America's mass shootings and found that very little existed. So he and his colleagues began compiling a database of their own.

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