Everytown For Gun Safety
Everytown for Gun Safety is a nonprofit organization launched in 2014 backed by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and millions of passionate gun control advocates. Their mission is to educate and influence federal and local policymakers about the importance of gun control and the adverse effects that may result from a lack thereof. They also aim to impact the public and raise awareness of the need to end gun violence to the press. Originally based in New York City, this movement has gained a nationwide following from people of all different affiliations, nationalities, professions, and social classes.
Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, is credited as the founder of Everytown for Gun Safety. The organization stemmed from Mayors Against Illegal Guns, another nonprofit that still acts as an entity of concentration for Everytown. It was founded by Bloomberg along with 14 other mayors, aimed to eliminate the sale of illegal firearms in their cities. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is the other entity acting on behalf of Everytown that influenced its founding in 2014. Moms Demand Action, founded by Shannon Watts, is an organization of moms in every state working together to protect children from gun violence. Both organizations still stick to their original mission statements in their work that they contribute to Everytown for Gun Safety.
Everytown’s movement is founded on the principle of not eradicating or reforming the Constitutions second amendment, rather they call for increasing the involvement of extensive background checks on those who wish to exercise this right. As their mission statement voices, they wish to “promote efforts to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.” A controversial topic in politics is the ease at which violent or unstable patrons can access weaponry, specifically firearms. Over the years, the United States has seen an upswing in the number of tragic attacks on citizens, with guns being the primary weapon used for harm. Everytown uses education as its primary tool for changing the way gun safety is being enacted on in the United States. The organization’s action group focuses on educating legislators to adopt “common-sense” gun reforms that do not take away the second amendment right, rather strengthen it with the backing that only those who are of sound body and mind should be able to exercise this right to bear arms. Eveytown’s research group is responsible for investigating 9 major issues surrounding gun violence, like guns in public places, illegal and online gun sales, and unintentional deaths from guns.
The organization has received presidential endorsement and recognition from many influential political leaders in the United States. In immense numbers, survivors of acts of gun violence and family members of victims offer support through Everytown by sharing their stories and speaking out in favor of making communities safer through gun safety regulations. Students from high school to universities are also actively involved in the promotion of gun safety through their schools and volunteer activities. Since 2014, it is an increasingly popular movement whose members have no plans to silence their voices anytime soon.
