The Gun Lobby

Over the last four decades, the leaders of the National Rifle Association have steered the organization away from advocating on behalf of sportsmen and hunters towards lobbying for the most extreme policies and opposing virtually all gun violence prevention legislation. In recent years, that’s meant working tirelessly to prevent the passage of common-sense laws that would do more to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.

The gun lobby has also worked to keep the country in the dark about gun violence, with dire consequences for public health and public safety. The NRA has fought to prevent Congress from providing any funding for research on gun violence; it has blocked law enforcement from being able to share analyses of crime gun trace data; and it has tried to pass laws prohibiting doctors and military leaders from talking to patients and service members about responsible gun ownership and suicide prevention.

the gun lobby

the gun lobby

Reports

Access Denied

In January 2013, Mayors Against Illegal Guns released a report that surveys the gun lobby’s efforts to suppress data and research funding on violence, making it difficult to study the causes of gun violence and to develop evidence-based policies that will reduce America’s gun murder rate.

32 Items
Fact Sheets • The Gun Lobby • December 8, 2016

Stand Your Ground

Stand Your Ground laws upend centuries of traditional self-defense doctrine and are a threat to public safety by upending centuries of traditional self-defense doctrine. These laws encourage armed vigilantism by allowing a person to kill another person to defend himself, even in there is a safe and clear way to avoid the conflict.

Also featured in:  Guns in Public Places  

Legal Documents • The Gun Lobby • March 4, 2016

Amicus Brief: Kolbe v. Hogan

Everytown for Gun Safety filed this amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to urge the full court to reconsider a dangerous decision by a three-judge panel which would have subjected a Maryland gun law to the most rigorous form of judicial scrutiny and threatened legislators’ ability to adopt gun laws they believe necessary to protect public safety. On March 4, 2016, the full court agreed to rehear the case
Legal Documents • Guns in Public Places • January 15, 2016

Amicus Brief: Grace v. District of Columbia

Everytown for Gun Safety filed this amicus brief in the federal trial court in Washington, D.C., in support of the District's concealed carry permitting law. The brief demonstrated that the law's "good reason"/"proper reason" standard is consistent with centuries of Anglo-American tradition, and does not violate the Second Amendment.

Also featured in:  The Gun Lobby  

Legal Documents • Unintentional Deaths • January 14, 2016

Amicus Brief: Wollschlaeger v. Governor, State of Florida (Second Brief)

This is the second amicus brief that Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has filed in the 11th Circuit in this case. This brief again urges the full 11th Circuit to re-hear a case challenging a Florida law that prohibits doctors from speaking with their patients about firearm safety. Previously, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit upheld the law; this brief urges the full court to reconsider that decision.

Also featured in:  The Gun Lobby  

Legal Documents • Guns in Public Places • January 4, 2016

Amicus Brief: GeorgiaCarry.org v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Everytown for Gun Safety filed this amicus brief in a case challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ regulation of guns in recreational areas administered by the Corps. Everytown’s brief provided the court hearing the challenge with previously overlooked materials regarding the history of regulating guns in areas, like the Corps’ recreation areas, where members of the public congregate.

Also featured in:  The Gun Lobby