"Facts and Findings" encompass firearm deaths in Illinois in 1996, firearms homicides in Chicago from 1985 through 1997, Chicago homicides by type of weapon for 1996 and 1997, and murder offense by weapon type from 1988 through 1997. Chicago is shown to have more homicides than any other U.S. city, and it lags far behind many other major cities in the reduction of violent crime. Data also cover the use of guns in domestic violence and suicides, as well as the number of Chicago homicides that have involved gangs and narcotics (1985-97) and the percentage of Drug Use Forecasting adult male arrestees reporting ever owning a gun by involvement in drug sales and gangs. Data address the number of concealed gun-carrying by grade and gender for 12 schools in two major cities. Other data cover the types and prevalence of guns, costs associated with firearms, guns and other violent crime, the recovering and tracing of firearms, and gun violence and community response. This "Action Alert" also summarizes the content of new gun-related laws enacted by the Illinois Legislature in the 1999 spring session. Firearms prevention strategies nationwide are also described, along with collaborations between criminal justice and health agencies in dealing with gun violence. Other data pertain to the use of guns in self-defense and the portrayal of gun violence in the media. Resources for more information on gun violence are listed. Extensive tabular and graphic data