Press Releases

Report Released Prior to Special Session of Virginia General Assembly Called in Wake of Virginia Beach Mass Shooting Washington, D.C. – The Violence Policy Center (VPC) today released an updated edition of its study Silencers: A Threat to Public Safety as the Virginia General Assembly is scheduled to begin a special session tomorrow on gun […]

In response to legislation introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) to ban “bump fire” and similar devices that allow semiautomatic assault weapons (like the ones found with the Las Vegas shooter) to mimic full-auto fire, Violence Policy Center (VPC) Legislative Director Kristen Rand issued the following statement: “We commend Senator […]

“Start Them Young” documents how the firearms industry and gun lobby market guns to children Washington, DC–The firearms industry and gun lobby are targeting children as young as grade-school age for financial and political gain, a comprehensive new study from the Violence Policy Center (VPC) reveals. The 54-page report, “Start Them Young” — How the […]

Washington, DC — The firearms industry and gun lobby are fighting a battle of their own creation with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) according to a new report from the Violence Policy Center (VPC), AR-15 and AK-47 Assault Pistols: Rifle Power in a Handgun. As the report details, ATF recently […]

Gun Industry “Corporate Partners” Donated Between $19.3 million and $60.2 million to the NRA since 2005, New VPC Report Reveals Washington, DC — The National Rifle Association has received up to $60.2 million in donations from the firearms industry since 2005, including eight “corporate partners” that each gave a million dollars or more, a new […]

Washington, DC — The Violence Policy Center (VPC) released the following statement on Governor Chris Christie’s veto of a bill to ban 50 caliber sniper rifles in New Jersey: “By vetoing this bill, Governor Christie has prioritized gun industry profits over public safety,” said VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand. “Fifty caliber sniper rifles can puncture […]

AK-47 and AR-15 Assault Pistols that Combine the Power of an Assault Rifle with the Concealability of a Handgun Lead the Way WASHINGTON, DC–Not since the late 1980s and early 1990s has there been such a wide variety of assault pistols available for sale on the U.S. civilian market warns the new Violence Policy Center […]

Widespread Sale of Military-Style Weapons Drives Illicit Traffic to Mexico, Increases Armed Attacks on U.S. Law Enforcement Officers, and Facilitates Mass Shootings Washington, DC–As the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform focuses on alleged failures of the U.S. Justice Department’s program to stop gun trafficking to Mexico, a new study by the Violence Policy […]

Organized Corporate Solicitation Program Disproves Longstanding NRA Claim That It’s Independent of Gun Industry Washington, DC–The National Rifle Association (NRA) receives millions of dollars directly from domestic and foreign gun manufacturers and other members of the firearms industry through an organized corporate outreach program according to a new report issued today by the Violence Policy […]

Nearly Two-Thirds of Guns Obtained by Traffickers in Cases Studied Were Semiautomatic Assault Weapons, Armor-Piercing Handguns, or 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles Washington, D.C.–U.S. court records from southwestern states clearly show that illegal gun traffickers involved in smuggling firearms to Mexico seek semiautomatic assault weapons, armor-piercing handguns, and 50 caliber anti-armor sniper rifles from U.S. gun […]