The Gun Violence Archive: A Small-Scale Nonprofit with a Big Impact
In the wake of multiple mass shootings that have reignited calls for nationwide gun control—including one at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas that resulted in nine deaths, including the gunman—it is imperative that journalists understand the importance of the Gun Violence Archive.
The Gun Violence Archive, a small nonprofit that has been tracking every instance of gun violence in the United States for less than a decade, has gained significant recognition in recent years. This organization's ongoing tally of mass shootings, which it defines as any incident in which four or more people are shot, excluding the shooter, has been cited by the Supreme Court, policymakers, and media outlets like CNN.
Despite its significant influence in the field, the Gun Violence Archive remains remarkably small-scale. It is funded almost entirely by a single donor in their eighties and has no office space or any full-time employees. It is astonishing that an organization as small-scale as the Gun Violence Archive has the power to sway those in the highest echelons of power. This underscores the glaring dearth of current, standardized data on gun violence in America. Despite the FBI's collection of data on aggravated assaults and murders, and the CDC's collection of data on total firearm deaths, the dissemination of this information is typically delayed by months, if not years. This poses a significant obstacle in discerning emerging patterns or gauging the effectiveness of policies and laws.
The genesis of the Gun Violence Archive can be traced back to an interactive project that Slate magazine initiated as a deliberate provocation. The catalyst for this was the tragic mass shooting that took place at Sandy Hook elementary school in December 2012. In the wake of this horrific incident, Dan Kois, the then senior editor of culture at Slate, was consumed with a desire to develop a tool that would compel individuals to confront the magnitude of gun violence in America. Kois was incensed by the shooting and became increasingly exasperated when he endeavored to source real-time gun violence data, only to encounter antiquated information from the CDC.
The group's researchers utilize automated tools to extract data from approximately 7,500 law enforcement agencies, media outlets, and other organizations. They meticulously scrutinize the results, verify media sources, engage with the police for follow-ups, and incorporate that data into the database. The majority of shootings are integrated into the system within about 72 hours.
The Gun Violence Archive, established as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, operates mainly on the generosity of one donor whose contribution has grown from an initial $250,000 per annum to $500,000 before landing at $750,000. This donor's financial support accounts for around 90 percent of the organization's budget, according to Bryant.
The group's researchers are committed to collecting data that goes beyond the number of deaths and injuries resulting from gun violence. They also seek to determine the context of each shooting, including whether it was domestic, unintentional, police-involved, or defensive; the location and time of occurrence; and the victims' age or identity. The researchers undertake comprehensive training using a 50-to-60-page manual that outlines the group's methodology in detail. They also revise their reporting as new information becomes available or as they identify previously unreported shootings.
