With the rising levels of gun violence in America, the power and influence of the gun lobby, and the unwillingness of Congress to take action, it can be easy to get discouraged. But there is reason for hope! Significant gun reform is being passed in a number of states—mostly “blue” ones. And, significantly, a meaningful federal gun reform bill was actually passed in 2022—the first significant one in almost 30 years! The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act contains a number of reforms that advocates have been seeking for years. As part of that Act, more background checks will be conducted.
However, this was the first significant federal bill in almost 30 years. We cannot afford to wait another 30 years for more gun reform! More needs to be done!
It would be easy to simply blame the powerful NRA and all the gun lobby for America’s failure to pass federal legislation. Yes, that’s true. The NRA has influence that defies the fact it only has a membership of about 4 million—far from the total number of American gun owners. Yes, the NRA pressures politicians, makes plenty of campaign contributions and does the dirty work of the gun industry. That’s a given.
The reality is that the NRA is effective at what it does: strong-arming elected representatives to respond to their “anything goes” agenda. They know how to use the democratic system to their advantage. They have a grassroots organization–their members contact candidates before they’re elected, they ask questions, they track voting records, etc. Most important, they have passion (often in the form of anger) for what they believe and they make sure their elected officials know it.
Unfortunately, the gun reform movement is younger and has not been as strong and forceful. We have three major national GVP organizations, not one, and in the past they were not as grassroots-oriented. Many of its followers tend to also be passionate about a number of other social issues, such as reproductive rights, climate change and poverty—as opposed to many gun rights activists who are often single-issue voters. We must change that!
The best thing that can be done to combat the NRA and the rest of the gun lobby is for YOU and other concerned Americans to get involved and make your voices heard! If enough people like YOU do so, we can make real change. Follow a link below to get more information. Join one of the GVP groups listed below and help out. Be a part of the solution. Not sure who your Congressional representative is, or where to write? The following sources can help:
- The Senate’s web site.
- The House of Representatives web site.
Join a National Organization
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence
The Brady Campaign, named for former Reagan press secretary Jim Brady and his wife Sarah, advocates for more rational, common-sense gun laws. It lobbies for gun regulations at both the state and national level. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is the educational and research arm. Link here: Brady United
Giffords
Giffords is a leader in the movement to end gun violence in America. Led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot and seriously wounded, its team brings decades of political, legal, and policy expertise to the fight for gun safety. Link here: Giffords
Giffords also sponsors Gun Owners for Safety, a group of responsible hunters and gun owners who recognize the need for sensible gun laws.
Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action
Everytown is a movement of nearly 10 million mayors, teachers, survivors, gun owners, students, and everyday Americans, introducing evidence-based solutions in every town to end gun violence. Link here: Everytown
March for Our Lives
March for Our Lives is a student-led organization which leads demonstrations in support of gun control legislation. Link here: MFOL
Daniel Mauser Memorial Website 