Everytown for Gun Safety

Everytown for Gun Safety
Name	Everytown for Gun Safety
Formation	2013
Headquarters	New York City
Leader title	President
Leader name	John Feinblatt
Type	Nonprofit advocacy organization

Everytown for Gun Safety is a United States-based advocacy group focused on firearm safety and gun violence prevention. Founded in 2013 through the merger of two groups, it became a prominent player in national debates over firearm policy, electoral politics, and public health responses to mass shootings and urban violence. The organization engages in research, litigation support, grassroots organizing, and political campaigning.

History

Everytown emerged from the merger of Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, uniting municipal and grassroots constituencies with national ambitions. The creation followed high-profile incidents such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and national mobilizations around the 2012 United States elections, while drawing on advocacy traditions exemplified by groups like the National Rifle Association and reform efforts rooted in the aftermath of events like the Columbine High School massacre and the Virginia Tech shooting. Early leaders and supporters included figures from the Democratic Party, former mayors from cities like New York City and Chicago, and national donors whose networks intersected with philanthropic efforts associated with families linked to Bloomberg L.P. and other civic initiatives.

Mission and Organization

The stated mission centers on reducing gun violence through policy change, public education, and electoral participation; it situates itself among nonprofit actors in the United States such as Giffords, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and public-health aligned organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and academic partners at institutions including the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Organizationally, it operates a political arm, a research division, state-level offices, and volunteer networks modeled on campaigns by groups like Organizing for Action and MoveOn. Executive leadership and board members have included figures with prior roles in municipal government, philanthropy, and media organizations such as Bloomberg News and foundations associated with prominent families.

Advocacy and Campaigns

Everytown has organized national campaigns on proposals such as universal background checks, red flag laws, and safe storage initiatives, positioning these alongside legislative measures like the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and state-level statutes in places such as California, New York (state), and Florida. Campaign tactics mirror strategies used by national movements including coordinated grassroots canvassing similar to Obama for America operations, digital advertising akin to Priorities USA Action, and coalition-building with groups like National Organization for Women and local survivor networks formed after incidents in communities like Parkland, Florida and Aurora, Colorado. The group has promoted ballot measures, supported municipal ordinances, and launched public-awareness efforts referencing cases such as the Las Vegas shooting and legislative moments like the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Political Activity and Lobbying

The organization maintains an active role in elections and lobbying, endorsing candidates, spending in races, and filing amicus briefs in court cases involving the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and federal statutes. Its political operations operate in the context of campaign finance rules overseen by the Federal Election Commission and judicial interpretations by the Supreme Court of the United States and lower federal courts. Activities have provoked counter-efforts from groups like the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund and allied political committees, intersecting with broader debates over lobbying influences compared to historic advocacy by organizations such as AARP and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Research and Publications

Research produced or commissioned by the group has covered topics such as background check gaps, firearm trafficking patterns, and the impacts of policies like extreme risk protection orders; these publications are cited in policy debates alongside studies from journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, reports by the National Academy of Medicine, and work from university centers including the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. The organization has released maps, databases, and reports that reference data sources like the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background Check System and academic datasets used in analyses by scholars associated with institutions like Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Funding and Affiliates

Funding has come from individual donors, philanthropic foundations, and prominent benefactors with connections to media and finance; notable funding streams have been reported from networks linked to persons associated with Bloomberg L.P. and major family foundations similar in scale to those tied to the Ford Foundation or Carnegie Corporation of New York. Affiliates include state-level coalitions, local chapters, and allied organizations such as Giffords and survivor-led groups formed after high-profile shootings in Sandy Hook, Parkland, and other communities. The organization’s structure mirrors multi-armed advocacy groups that combine 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and political action committee functions, paralleling arrangements used by organizations like SEIU and National Right to Work Committee.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics, including conservative organizations, gun-rights groups, and some civil liberties advocates, have challenged the group’s policy positions, funding transparency, and political tactics, drawing comparisons to advocacy strategies employed by entities such as the American Civil Liberties Union in litigation and public campaigns. Legal challenges concerning firearms statutes have involved courts in jurisdictions including the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States, while political opponents cite electoral spending similar to disputes around groups like Crossroads GPS. Debates have also engaged media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Fox News in coverage that scrutinizes messaging, research methods, and coalition-building.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States