Since Sandy Hook killings a decade ago, Congress has put no limits on gun sales

May 25, 2022
In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting, Marketplace looked into background checks and gun purchases. We're revisiting some of that reporting today.
An officer walks outside of Robb Elementary School on May 25. The day before, a gunman killed 19 students and two adults.
Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images

Gun stock prices and background checks are surging

Some analysts believe anxiety and fear are driving the spike.
Background checks at licensed gun dealers are up for the third month in a row, and they’re up a lot.
George Frey/AFP via Getty Images

With COVID-19 comes a surge in gun sales

Apr 13, 2020
The FBI reports that background checks in March were up. Some of those purchasing guns are doing so for the first time.
People wait in line at Northwest Armory, a gun store in Portland, Ore., on March 21, 2020, two days before the governor issued a stay-at-home order.

How businesses cope with tragedy

Aug 5, 2019
Companies have to strike a delicate balance when they are caught up in a tragedy like a mass shooting.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Want to divest from guns? You might need to team up with your co-workers

Mar 8, 2018
Under pressure to divest from guns, pension funds feel they have to choose between making money for their members and their values.
Outside view of Sunrise Tactical Supply store in Coral Springs, Florida on February 16, 2018 where school shooter Nikolas Cruz bought his AR-15 to gun down students at Marjory Stoneman High School. 
MICHELE EVE SANDBERG/AFP/Getty Images

Should credit card companies tackle gun sales?

Feb 20, 2018
Andrew Ross Sorkin had an interesting column in the New York Times yesterday — a business and economic take on how to make mass shootings less common. PayPal and Square, Sorkin pointed out, decided years ago not to let people use their services to buy guns. What about Mastercard and Visa, he wondered. Or the […]

For public good, not for profit.

Top U.S. gunmaker says sales will pick back up under Trump

Feb 23, 2017
Sturm Ruger CEO Michael Fifer says owning firearms is 'more socially acceptable.'
The proprietor of this Merrimack, New Hampshire, gun store said his October 2016 sales were double that of 2015, with customers expressing anxiety about the November election.
DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images

Law enforcement auctions guns that were confiscated in crimes

Oct 11, 2016
Some agencies don't want the firearms back on the streets.
Potential gun buyers bid on firearms that were confiscated by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. 
Elly Yu

Gun background checks and mental health records

Feb 15, 2016
New rules on patient privacy and mental health records for gun background check.
Ryan Allen, owner of Frontier Arms in Wyoming
Miles Bryan