Joy Resmovits
@joyresmo.bsky.social
Editor at The Trace focused on creating a more inclusive model for covering gun violence at the local level, and some other things.
Before that (and always, in a sense): the education beat.
After hours: theater, music, books, art, Chaucer.
Before that (and always, in a sense): the education beat.
After hours: theater, music, books, art, Chaucer.
Pinned
Joy Resmovits
@joyresmo.bsky.social
· Dec 4
For the last year plus, @thetrace.org's Mensah M. Dean has put his decades of experience and expertise toward exploring a difficult question: Why does the gun violence crisis affect Black Americans at disproportionate rates?
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
Now that gun violence in Philadelphia is on a sustained downward trajectory, the city is trying to figure out what to do next. So for the first time in its history, the Philadelphia Police Department is developing a five-year strategic plan designed to enhance public safety.
Here’s What Philadelphians Want to See in the City's Plan to Boost Public Safety
A safer city depends on crime prevention and lower gun violence, but also better coordination between stakeholders, residents tell The Trace.
www.thetrace.org
October 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Now that gun violence in Philadelphia is on a sustained downward trajectory, the city is trying to figure out what to do next. So for the first time in its history, the Philadelphia Police Department is developing a five-year strategic plan designed to enhance public safety.
Important context from @thetrace.org and the Gun Violence Data Hub:
An of 150 U.S. Cities Shows One of the Greatest Drops in Gun Violence — Ever
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...
An of 150 U.S. Cities Shows One of the Greatest Drops in Gun Violence — Ever
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...
A Trace Analysis of 150 U.S. Cities Shows One of the Greatest Drops in Gun Violence — Ever
A Gun Violence Data Hub analysis of 150 cities paints a mostly consistent picture.
www.thetrace.org
October 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Important context from @thetrace.org and the Gun Violence Data Hub:
An of 150 U.S. Cities Shows One of the Greatest Drops in Gun Violence — Ever
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...
An of 150 U.S. Cities Shows One of the Greatest Drops in Gun Violence — Ever
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...
As Philly officials draft a new plan for making the city safer, @thetrace.org's Mensah M. Dean spoke to residents about their priorities.
One theme: Better police relations.
"They should say, 'Good morning,' and, 'Good afternoon.' It doesn’t hurt to say that."
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/phil...
One theme: Better police relations.
"They should say, 'Good morning,' and, 'Good afternoon.' It doesn’t hurt to say that."
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/phil...
Here’s What Philadelphians Want to See in the City's Plan to Boost Public Safety
A safer city depends on crime prevention and lower gun violence, but also better coordination between stakeholders, residents tell The Trace.
www.thetrace.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
As Philly officials draft a new plan for making the city safer, @thetrace.org's Mensah M. Dean spoke to residents about their priorities.
One theme: Better police relations.
"They should say, 'Good morning,' and, 'Good afternoon.' It doesn’t hurt to say that."
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/phil...
One theme: Better police relations.
"They should say, 'Good morning,' and, 'Good afternoon.' It doesn’t hurt to say that."
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/phil...
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
Today, we're debuting a new feature on @thetrace.org called 92 Days in Gun Violence. It's a quarterly update. The big finding thru Q3 is that have been fewer shooting deaths in 2025 than any year in a decade.
Plus more on gun sales, our work, and recent research:
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/shoo...
Plus more on gun sales, our work, and recent research:
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/shoo...
October 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Today, we're debuting a new feature on @thetrace.org called 92 Days in Gun Violence. It's a quarterly update. The big finding thru Q3 is that have been fewer shooting deaths in 2025 than any year in a decade.
Plus more on gun sales, our work, and recent research:
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/shoo...
Plus more on gun sales, our work, and recent research:
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/shoo...
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
Gun dealers talk to @champebarton.bsky.social about the drop in demand, what drives sales, and the state of the industry.
Some dealers are seeing folks who bought during the pandemic sales surge now seeking to sell their guns.
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...
Some dealers are seeing folks who bought during the pandemic sales surge now seeking to sell their guns.
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...
Gun Stores Are Struggling Under Trump
Dealers say the president’s gun-friendly policies have actually hurt their sales. “People have a tendency to want what they feel is under threat," one said.
www.thetrace.org
October 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Gun dealers talk to @champebarton.bsky.social about the drop in demand, what drives sales, and the state of the industry.
Some dealers are seeing folks who bought during the pandemic sales surge now seeking to sell their guns.
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...
Some dealers are seeing folks who bought during the pandemic sales surge now seeking to sell their guns.
www.thetrace.org/2025/10/gun-...
"The attack was at least the 20th high-profile shooting at a house of worship in the United States over the past two decades, according to a Trace analysis of data from the Gun Violence Archive and other nonprofits that track such incidents."
Sunday's church attack in Michigan was at least the 20th high-profile shooting at a U.S. house of worship over the past two decades.
Collectively, these shootings left at least 92 dead and 100 wounded.
Collectively, these shootings left at least 92 dead and 100 wounded.
A Timeline of High-Profile Shootings at Houses of Worship
The attack on a Mormon church in Michigan was one of many similar shootings over the past 20 years, according to an analysis by The Trace.
www.thetrace.org
September 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
"The attack was at least the 20th high-profile shooting at a house of worship in the United States over the past two decades, according to a Trace analysis of data from the Gun Violence Archive and other nonprofits that track such incidents."
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
An estimated 70 percent of people currently detained by ICE have never been convicted of a crime.
Some Immigrants in Chicago Now Fear ICE More Than Gunfire
Donald Trump's deployment of federal agents to cities is based on the disproven claim that immigrants commit a disproportionate number of violent crimes.
www.thetrace.org
September 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM
An estimated 70 percent of people currently detained by ICE have never been convicted of a crime.
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
Investigators believe there may be additional victims of Sunday's shooting and fire at a Latter-day Saint church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. So far, at least four people have been confirmed as dead and either others were wounded.
Michigan Church Shooting and Fire: What We Know
At least four people were killed after an attacker opened fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint building and intentionally set fire to the structure.
www.nytimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Investigators believe there may be additional victims of Sunday's shooting and fire at a Latter-day Saint church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. So far, at least four people have been confirmed as dead and either others were wounded.
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
In the past two years, several shooters have attempted long-range assaults on politicians and government workers. Unlike many forms of public gun violence, these sorts of attacks evade most security measures, which makes preventing them exceedingly difficult.
The Dallas ICE Shooting Underscores How Hard It Is to Stop Sniper Attacks, Experts Say
“There really is not anything you can do to secure a public place 100 percent,” said Caylen Wojcik, a former Marine sniper.
www.thetrace.org
September 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
In the past two years, several shooters have attempted long-range assaults on politicians and government workers. Unlike many forms of public gun violence, these sorts of attacks evade most security measures, which makes preventing them exceedingly difficult.
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
We've covered this some at @thetrace.org, but Lydia Polgreen goes further here, showing how the rush to blame trans people for high-profile shootings exemplifies a broader mindset. (Trace story by @jenmascia.bsky.social)
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/mass...
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/mass...
September 19, 2025 at 3:12 PM
We've covered this some at @thetrace.org, but Lydia Polgreen goes further here, showing how the rush to blame trans people for high-profile shootings exemplifies a broader mindset. (Trace story by @jenmascia.bsky.social)
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/mass...
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/mass...
Important, sobering story on something we rarely talk about from @amendelson.bsky.social @thetrace.org @gqmagazine.bsky.social.
From our analysis:
-Americans 70+ had the highest suicide rates
-Gun suicides kill more men 70+ than car crashes
-From 2009-23, 63,836 older Americans died by gun suicide
From our analysis:
-Americans 70+ had the highest suicide rates
-Gun suicides kill more men 70+ than car crashes
-From 2009-23, 63,836 older Americans died by gun suicide
Older Americans have the highest rates of gun suicide of any age group. Not by a little — by a lot.
Why? I spent months exploring this question through data, field reporting, and interviews with experts. Our story is up today on @thetrace.org
www.thetrace.org/2025/09/gun-...
Why? I spent months exploring this question through data, field reporting, and interviews with experts. Our story is up today on @thetrace.org
www.thetrace.org/2025/09/gun-...
The Quiet Crisis: What’s Driving Gun Suicides Among Older Americans?
More and more older Americans are dying by firearm suicide, a new analysis from The Trace and GQ reveals. Older white men and those in rural areas experience alarmingly high rates.
www.thetrace.org
September 18, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Important, sobering story on something we rarely talk about from @amendelson.bsky.social @thetrace.org @gqmagazine.bsky.social.
From our analysis:
-Americans 70+ had the highest suicide rates
-Gun suicides kill more men 70+ than car crashes
-From 2009-23, 63,836 older Americans died by gun suicide
From our analysis:
-Americans 70+ had the highest suicide rates
-Gun suicides kill more men 70+ than car crashes
-From 2009-23, 63,836 older Americans died by gun suicide
“They are taking innocent people and it’s affecting the community,” Raquel said. “You can’t even be at peace in your own home.”
Important story from Rita Oceguera in @thetrace.org @chicagoreader.com
Important story from Rita Oceguera in @thetrace.org @chicagoreader.com
Donald Trump's deployment of federal agents to cities is based on the disproven claim that immigrants commit a disproportionate number of violent crimes.
Some Immigrants in Chicago Now Fear ICE More Than Gunfire
Donald Trump's deployment of federal agents to cities is based on the disproven claim that immigrants commit a disproportionate number of violent crimes.
www.thetrace.org
September 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
“They are taking innocent people and it’s affecting the community,” Raquel said. “You can’t even be at peace in your own home.”
Important story from Rita Oceguera in @thetrace.org @chicagoreader.com
Important story from Rita Oceguera in @thetrace.org @chicagoreader.com
"The shooting that claimed Kirk’s life did not happen in a vacuum. It follows a string of politically motivated attacks in the past two years: the attempted assassination of.. Donald Trump; the assassination of former Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband," and the CDC.
There's a lot of speculation about the motive of the man who killed Charlie Kirk. Regardless of what we learn, this assassination is an accelerant on an already burning fire.
"The question is how high it’s gonna burn and how much destruction it’s gonna do," @jeffsharlet.bsky.social tells me.
"The question is how high it’s gonna burn and how much destruction it’s gonna do," @jeffsharlet.bsky.social tells me.
Narratives About the Killing of Charlie Kirk May Be More Powerful Than the Facts
Jeff Sharlet, the author of ‘The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War,’ talked to The Trace about making sense of this tense moment.
www.thetrace.org
September 12, 2025 at 9:21 PM
"The shooting that claimed Kirk’s life did not happen in a vacuum. It follows a string of politically motivated attacks in the past two years: the attempted assassination of.. Donald Trump; the assassination of former Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband," and the CDC.
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
From a prescient 2024 opinion piece in @thetrace.org :
"To counter the ideology that drives political violence, we must refrain from normalizing the permission structure that condones it. ... Political leaders bear a significant responsibility."
www.thetrace.org/2024/08/trum...
"To counter the ideology that drives political violence, we must refrain from normalizing the permission structure that condones it. ... Political leaders bear a significant responsibility."
www.thetrace.org/2024/08/trum...
A Call to Protect Democracy From Political Violence
Experts at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions consider what led to the current climate — and how we can change it.
www.thetrace.org
September 12, 2025 at 12:59 AM
From a prescient 2024 opinion piece in @thetrace.org :
"To counter the ideology that drives political violence, we must refrain from normalizing the permission structure that condones it. ... Political leaders bear a significant responsibility."
www.thetrace.org/2024/08/trum...
"To counter the ideology that drives political violence, we must refrain from normalizing the permission structure that condones it. ... Political leaders bear a significant responsibility."
www.thetrace.org/2024/08/trum...
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot today at an event in Utah while on his “American Comeback” tour. He reportedly was being fact-checked at his “Prove Me Wrong” table about the trans mass shooter myth when he was shot.
Charlie Kirk Shot During Utah Valley University Event: Live Updates
Mr. Kirk, a close ally of President Trump, was shot in the neck while speaking in front of a large crowd on a university campus.
www.nytimes.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot today at an event in Utah while on his “American Comeback” tour. He reportedly was being fact-checked at his “Prove Me Wrong” table about the trans mass shooter myth when he was shot.
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
Washtenaw County, Michigan, sits just west of Detroit but faces its own split gun violence crisis. In Ypsilanti, shootings are driven by retaliation. Across the county’s rural towns, older white men are dying by suicide at far higher rates. Local leaders have built two playbooks in response.
This Midwestern County's Divergent Gun Violence Patterns Reflect a Broader American Reality
In Washtenaw County, Michigan, social workers and community violence specialists are responding differently, if simultaneously, to gun suicides and homicides.
www.thetrace.org
September 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Washtenaw County, Michigan, sits just west of Detroit but faces its own split gun violence crisis. In Ypsilanti, shootings are driven by retaliation. Across the county’s rural towns, older white men are dying by suicide at far higher rates. Local leaders have built two playbooks in response.
Philly gets yet another resource for keeping its streets clean. It's part of the city's effort to continue reducing violent crime.
Cleaner neighborhoods and green spaces point to a decline in crime. Could it help Philadelphia?
Bulletin: Could Cleanup Initiatives in Philadelphia Help Reduce the City's Gun Violence?
Cleaner neighborhoods and green spaces point to a decline in crime.
www.thetrace.org
September 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Philly gets yet another resource for keeping its streets clean. It's part of the city's effort to continue reducing violent crime.
@jenmascia.bsky.social found there were at least 22 swatting hoaxes at American colleges just between the last week of August and early September. "Most of the calls involved an armed person in the library. Some featured gunshots in the background."
www.thetrace.org/2025/09/swat... #tellewa
www.thetrace.org/2025/09/swat... #tellewa
More Than 20 Active Shooting Hoaxes Have Locked Down Colleges Over the Past Two Weeks
Experts said swatting incidents can traumatize students and first responders.
www.thetrace.org
September 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM
@jenmascia.bsky.social found there were at least 22 swatting hoaxes at American colleges just between the last week of August and early September. "Most of the calls involved an armed person in the library. Some featured gunshots in the background."
www.thetrace.org/2025/09/swat... #tellewa
www.thetrace.org/2025/09/swat... #tellewa
"The NSSF study, then, raises a key question: Why have Republican lawmakers largely stood against more significant reforms, let alone any reform at all? As the study indicates, many people with a favorable view of gun ownership appear open to going further than ... lawmakers."
As people once again think about gun reforms in the wake of the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting, I hope you’ll read my latest story, which is based on gun industry documents and pubbed in partnership with @thetrace.org and @rollingstone.com
www.thetrace.org/2025/08/gun-...
www.thetrace.org/2025/08/gun-...
Gun Rights Supporters Could Accept Significant Regulations, Per Industry’s Research
After Parkland, the gun industry found that people with “positive feelings” about gun ownership were open to common reform arguments.
www.thetrace.org
August 29, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"The NSSF study, then, raises a key question: Why have Republican lawmakers largely stood against more significant reforms, let alone any reform at all? As the study indicates, many people with a favorable view of gun ownership appear open to going further than ... lawmakers."
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
Some helpful historical context from my colleagues @jenmascia.bsky.social and @bychipbrownlee.com on how we got here www.thetrace.org/2024/04/colu...
The Armed Era
You drop your child off at kindergarten where they learn how to hide from an active shooter. You spot a rifle-strapped shopper in the cereal aisle at the supermarket. You stuff your belongings in a cl...
www.thetrace.org
August 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Some helpful historical context from my colleagues @jenmascia.bsky.social and @bychipbrownlee.com on how we got here www.thetrace.org/2024/04/colu...
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
We have updated the Gun Violence Data Hub's page featuring data on mass shootings.
This data comes from the Gun Violence Archive, and uses their definition of "a minimum of four victims shot." You can find more information and download the data at this link
datahub.thetrace.org/dataset/mass...
This data comes from the Gun Violence Archive, and uses their definition of "a minimum of four victims shot." You can find more information and download the data at this link
datahub.thetrace.org/dataset/mass...
Mass Shootings
Data on mass shootings in the United States, from the Gun Violence Archive.
datahub.thetrace.org
August 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
We have updated the Gun Violence Data Hub's page featuring data on mass shootings.
This data comes from the Gun Violence Archive, and uses their definition of "a minimum of four victims shot." You can find more information and download the data at this link
datahub.thetrace.org/dataset/mass...
This data comes from the Gun Violence Archive, and uses their definition of "a minimum of four victims shot." You can find more information and download the data at this link
datahub.thetrace.org/dataset/mass...
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
If you don't think "thoughts and prayers" suffice at this moment, you may want to read about what the gun industry knows about firearms laws, by @mikespies.bsky.social
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/gun-...
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/gun-...
August 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
If you don't think "thoughts and prayers" suffice at this moment, you may want to read about what the gun industry knows about firearms laws, by @mikespies.bsky.social
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/gun-...
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/gun-...
From a @thetrace.org Q&A with a Yale policing expert:
"If we were talking about a city and a state, the National Guard wouldn’t be able to exercise general police powers like making arrests or investigating crimes. Washington poses a very different issue."
www.thetrace.org/2025/08/trum...
"If we were talking about a city and a state, the National Guard wouldn’t be able to exercise general police powers like making arrests or investigating crimes. Washington poses a very different issue."
www.thetrace.org/2025/08/trum...
Legal Constraints Could Stymie Trump’s Plans to Police Other Cities
We spoke with a policing expert from Yale Law School about whether a federal takeover could come to New York or Chicago.
www.thetrace.org
August 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
From a @thetrace.org Q&A with a Yale policing expert:
"If we were talking about a city and a state, the National Guard wouldn’t be able to exercise general police powers like making arrests or investigating crimes. Washington poses a very different issue."
www.thetrace.org/2025/08/trum...
"If we were talking about a city and a state, the National Guard wouldn’t be able to exercise general police powers like making arrests or investigating crimes. Washington poses a very different issue."
www.thetrace.org/2025/08/trum...
Reposted by Joy Resmovits
In light of today’s shooting in Minnesota, here’s a relevant bit from the gun industry’s own research, which I obtained earlier this summer
August 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
In light of today’s shooting in Minnesota, here’s a relevant bit from the gun industry’s own research, which I obtained earlier this summer