Will Van Sant is a staff writer at The Trace. His reporting focuses on the gun lobby and related topics. Previously, he spent seven years on the investigative reporting team at Newsday, chronicling the cronyism, self-enrichment, and abuses of power endemic to government and law enforcement in New York.
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We’re not shy about asking you to help pay for the journalism you rely on—especially now. We have until December 31 to raise $400,000 to keep our nonprofit newsroom running at full strength into 2026. We’re off to a good start, but to make our goal we need contributions from readers who have never given before—and from steadfast donors who can give again. Every gift matters. Will you help us close the gap?
