CIR's past investigations into the black market in guns and illegal gun distribution system have pointed out flaws and loopholes in the regulation of guns and have led the way in two cases to reform legislation. Follow their ongoing investigations in these related reports, several of which were commissioned by or co-produced with KQED.

Nuestra Familia
April 30, 2006
By Oriana Zill de Granados and Julia Reynolds
Coproduced by the CIR, Latino Public Broadcasting, and KQED with major funding provided by CPB

This brutal but riveting documentary exposes the history and underground world of California's notorious Nuestra Familia gang (Our Family). Ironically, the NF originated in the prison-based Chicano pride movement and the Central Valley's agricultural fields. Now the NF has grown into a powerful criminal organization, run military style by 'generals' and 'captains' -- who recruit foot 'soldiers' in towns like Salinas to deal drugs and murder their rivals. The film profiles some of these street soldados, as they follow in their fathers, uncles, and brothers footsteps in 'the cause.'

Watch a program preview and listen to an interview with the filmmaker

Youths, Gangs and Guns
October 21, 2003
By Julia Reynolds and Dan Noyes,
Oakland Tribune
Commissioned by KQED and Funded by The David and Lucille Packard Foundation

Youths, Gangs and Guns examines the current state of firearm violence in three different California communities, describing how guns become available to youthful criminals and what law enforcement, community groups, and policymakers are doing to stem the violence.

Read the full article and see the accompanying photo essay

How US Dealers Arm the World
(originally titled: The Guns of Opa-Locka)
Dec 02, 2002
By Jake Bergman and Julia Reynolds, The Nation
Commissioned by KQED and Funded by The David and Lucille Packard Foundation

This report uncovers how terrorists can manipulate lax U.S. gun laws. This CIR investigation, a companion to Gun Land for NOW with Bill Moyers, focuses on the case of a retired U.S. military official who bought more than 800 MAK-90 semi-automatic rifles from a Florida gun store. U.S. Customs officials say the guns were bound for the FARC Guerilla movement in Colombia.

Read the full article


Gun Land
Nov 15, 2002
By Oriana Zill de Granados, NOW with Bill Moyers
Coproduced by KQED and CIR and Funded by The David and Lucille Packard Foundation

In Gun Land, which aired Friday, November 2002, on NOW with Bill Moyers on PBS, the Center for Investigative Reporting, KQED, and NOW with Bill Moyers investigate cases involving gun purchases by terrorists and examine Attorney General Ashcroft's decision to bar the FBI from reviewing gun purchase records. In the segment, NPR News and NOW correspondent Deborah Amos focuses on illegal gun purchases by the Al Fuqra group, a suspected terrorist organization, and a gun dealer who attempts to export large quantities of military assault weapons from the U.S. to Colombia's FARC guerillas.

Gun Land is a continuation of research which began with KQED/CIR's own hour-long documentary, GunShots, which looked at how illegal guns get into the hands of criminals in the United States.

Visit the official site to compare U.S. guns registration requirements with those of other nations, read voices from both sides of the debate from James Madison to the NRA, and more.


Gunrunners (Radio)
Oct 12, 2002
By Rick Young, NPR - All Things Considered
Coproduced by KQED, WGBH and CIR

In this examination of the international illegal trade in small arms, producer Rick Young takes listeners inside the world of illegal shipments of surplus Cold War small arms from Ukraine to West Africa. This report is a companion to the CIR FRONTLINE/World television co-production Gunrunners.

Listen to the report


Gunrunners
May 23, 2002
By Rick Young, PBS FRONTLINE/World
Coproduced by KQED, WGBH and CIR

An investigation into the deadly business of international weapons dealers, whose guns, grenades and mortars have contributed to millions of deaths around the world. FRONTLINE/World follows a team of U.N. detectives as they track down the source of illegal arms used to massacre civilians in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Visit the official web site for a Web-exclusive report on key players in the international small arms trade, an examination of the links connecting Ukrainian stockpiles and illegal arms deals, links on conflict commodities and more. You may even watch the video of the complete story in Real Player.


GunShots
May 04, 2001
an updated rebroadcast airs on Oct 23, 2003
By Doug Hamilton, KQED - Bay Window
Coproduced by KQED and CIR


Hot Guns
Jun 03, 1997
By Doug Hamilton, PBS FRONTLINE

An investigation into one of the largest gun thefts in United States history, this Emmy award-winning production takes the viewer undercover to reveal a world of criminal greed, cheap guns, and corporate neglect. Hot Guns later became the basis for new California legislation which requires all employees of firearm manufacturing firms to undergo criminal background checks and obliges firearm manufacturers to receive a certificate of eligibility in order to produce guns.

Visit the official site for a quiz on handgun legislation and information that will challenge your thinking about guns, gun control, and gun rights.

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