Everytown for Gun Safety
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gun control advocacy |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Michael Bloomberg (primary financial supporter) |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Michael Bloomberg (primary financial supporter) |
| Products | Advocacy, research on gun violence, lobbying for gun control legislation |
| Website | everytown |
Everytown for Gun Safety is a U.S.-based non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for gun control measures and combatting gun violence. Established in 2013 through the unification of Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, its mission is to inform lawmakers, media outlets, and the general public about the impact of gun violence while promoting efforts to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of criminals.[1]
The group emphasizes the implementation of universal background checks for firearm acquisitions and generates research related to gun violence trends. Its primary financial support comes from Michael Bloomberg.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Formation
Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) was created in April 2006 during a conference co-hosted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York’s mayor. Bloomberg and Menino served as co-chairs of this coalition. The initial membership consisted of 15 mayors who agreed to a shared set of principles. By late 2014, the coalition had expanded to include 855 mayors.
In April 2014, MAIG combined forces with Moms Demand Action, resulting in the formation of Everytown for Gun Safety. This merger occurred nearly a year after the U.S. Senate debated federal gun legislation following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which included an unsuccessful proposal to mandate background checks on all gun sales conducted at shows or online. Bloomberg has indicated that Everytown was created to challenge the political power of the National Rifle Association of America.
Background Checks
The organization champions the broadening of background check requirements for firearm buyers through both state and federal legislative reforms. It supports laws mandating background checks on all firearm transactions and advocates for state regulations that require reporting mental health records to the national background check database.
Assault Weapons
Everytown endorses legislation aimed at prohibiting assault weapons.
Domestic Violence
The group backs statutes that prevent individuals with domestic abuse convictions from acquiring firearms. Research conducted by Everytown indicates that states enforcing background checks on private handgun sales experience reduced rates of gun-related intimate partner violence. In 2014, it supported laws in six states—Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin—that restrict gun access for convicted domestic abusers and those subject to restraining orders.
Preventable Injuries
Promoting firearm safety technology and advocating for laws requiring secure gun storage, Everytown seeks to reduce accidental shootings among children. It highlights that American children suffer firearm injuries at a significantly higher rate compared to their counterparts in other nations.
Gun Trafficking
The organization pushes for tougher penalties against gun trafficking offenses and calls for the creation of a federal statute specifically targeting gun trafficking.
Tiahrt Amendment
Prior to Everytown’s establishment, Mayors Against Illegal Guns focused on repealing the Tiahrt Amendment, named after former Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-KS). Passed in 2003 as part of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, this amendment restricts the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from sharing firearm trace data except with law enforcement or prosecutors involved in specific criminal investigations; it also prohibits using this data in civil litigation. Tiahrt defended the provision as necessary to protect gun owner privacy and prevent misuse of information.
MAIG sought repeal because:
- It limits access by state and local law enforcement to gun trace information, hindering efforts to identify illegal gun sellers, investigate trafficking networks, and connect firearms to crimes. Mayor Bloomberg described it as "an insult to thousands of police officers" confronting illegal guns.
- It requires destruction of NICS records within 24 hours, complicating detection of fraudulent dealers and straw purchasers.
- It prevents ATF from mandating inventory audits by dealers to locate lost or stolen firearms; currently, ATF is authorized only one warrantless inspection per licensed dealer annually.
Support for repeal came from ten national law enforcement groups—including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and Police Executive Research Forum—state associations across 22 states, and police chiefs representing 39 states. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence noted no evidence that ATF’s pre-2003 data disclosures had harmed law enforcement operations.
In 2007, although House Appropriations Committee blocked repeal attempts, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed legislation threatening law enforcement personnel with imprisonment if they used gun tracing data beyond designated investigations.
Tiahrt countered by emphasizing that ATF’s gun trace database supports criminal probes and warned that public release could compromise ongoing cases and officer safety. He cited endorsements from ATF officials and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), who opposed repeal due to concerns about jeopardizing undercover activities.
Nevertheless, NY Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has participated in events calling for repeal. The ATF under President Obama did not take an official position; while Obama supported repeal during his Senate career, his administration pursued only limited modifications during appropriations negotiations.
Constitutional carry
Moms Demand Action has consistently opposed constitutional carry, also referred to as permitless carry, unrestricted carry, or Vermont carry, which permits carrying firearms openly or concealed in public without requiring a license or permit. Despite the group's firm resistance, Indiana—the state where the organization was established—became the 24th state to enact constitutional carry laws on March 21, 2022.
Other issues
Everytown has submitted amicus curiae briefs endorsing New Jersey's high-capacity magazine ban, supporting the may-issue firearm permitting regulations in California and New York, and contesting Florida's state preemption statute that limits local firearm ordinances.
In July 2018, the organization petitioned for an injunction to prevent Defense Distributed from distributing blueprints for 3D printed firearms.
The group also advocated for prohibiting bump stocks in the aftermath of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
Programs and political activities
In April 2008, following a request from Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Walmart—the largest firearms retailer in the United States—voluntarily implemented new sales policies designed to reduce gun access to unauthorized individuals. J. P. Suarez, Senior Vice President at Walmart, stated that the company adopted the 10-point "Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership" code to strengthen existing safeguards and encouraged other retailers to follow suit.
In 2009, Mayors Against Illegal Guns actively opposed the Thune Amendment related to concealed carry, which sought to mandate states to honor each other's firearm permits. Although supported by the NRA, this amendment was defeated by a vote of 58 to 39, marking the NRA’s first Senate floor defeat in ten years.
Following the 2011 Tucson shooting, which injured Representative Gabby Giffords, the organization initiated the "Fix Gun Checks" petition, collecting 250,000 signatures advocating for universal background checks on all gun purchasers. The campaign underscored that 18 states had submitted fewer than 100 mental health records to the national background check system and supported legislation introduced by Senator Charles Schumer and Representative Carolyn McCarthy. Additionally, they conducted a two-month nationwide awareness tour.
In 2012, collaborating with retired military officials, the group helped repeal a Congressional amendment that limited military commanders and mental health professionals from monitoring firearms held by service members. In April 2013, they spearheaded efforts for Senate legislation mandating background checks on all commercial firearm sales. The Manchin-Toomey Amendment aimed to extend these checks to internet and gun show transactions but failed to achieve the required 60 votes.
After the Senate vote, Mayors Against Illegal Guns invested approximately $12 million in advertising campaigns supporting senators who backed the legislation and opposing those who did not. They also launched the "No More Names" bus tour across 25 states over 100 days to foster grassroots advocacy for gun violence prevention laws, honoring victims since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
An apology was issued after mistakenly including names of perpetrators such as Tamerlan Tsarnaev and suspects like former officer-turned-fugitive Christopher Dorner among shooting victims at a rally. The organization clarified that it had relied on a list compiled by Slate.com.
During the 2014 election cycle, Everytown endorsed more than 100 candidates across 28 states. It played a significant role in passing Washington State Initiative 594, which required background checks on all gun purchases, contributing over $3.2 million through the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility. The group opposed Initiative 591, a competing measure supported by gun rights advocates. Initiative 594 passed with nearly 60% approval while Initiative 591 was defeated. Everytown also backed Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and state senators who supported comprehensive gun violence prevention laws enacted in 2013, including universal background checks.
Building on Washington’s achievement, Everytown supported a similar measure in Nevada qualifying for the 2016 ballot. Although approved by voters, its implementation has been delayed due to legal challenges concerning FBI involvement. In October 2017, advocates filed suit against state officials seeking enforcement of the law. Everytown has expressed interest in pursuing ballot initiatives in Arizona, Maine, and Oregon.
In December 2015, Everytown collaborated with the National Basketball Association (NBA) on advertisements featuring players such as Stephen Curry and Carmelo Anthony, promoting an end to gun violence without endorsing specific policy proposals. This campaign premiered on Christmas Day.
Everytown, together with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, sponsored a gun policy forum for candidates in the 2020 presidential race at The Des Moines Register Political Soapbox on August 10, 2019.
Advisory board
The advisory board of Everytown consists of a diverse group including mayors, leaders from the business and military sectors, as well as individuals affected by gun violence. As of January 2014, prominent members featured former mayors such as Michael Bloomberg (New York City), Tom Barrett (Milwaukee), Michael B. Coleman (Columbus), Annise Parker (Houston), and Michael Nutter (Philadelphia). The board also counted investors Warren Buffett and Ken Lerer; philanthropist Eli Broad; ex-Qualcomm chairman Irwin M. Jacobs; former Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack; U.S. Representative Carlos A. Giménez; alongside survivors and family members impacted by gun violence, including Stephen Barton and Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) once included over 1,000 current and former mayors, although its membership declined by approximately 15%, dropping from 1,046 in December 2012 to 885 by February 2014. NRA president James W. Porter II attributed this decrease to a lack of political determination on gun control issues, while some mayors criticized MAIG for broadening its focus from illegal firearms to wider gun control measures. John Feinblatt, MAIG’s chairman, explained that fluctuations in membership were tied to election cycles. Additionally, some of the original founding mayors later encountered legal troubles.
In Rockford, Illinois, Mayor Larry Morrissey voiced his dissatisfaction with MAIG’s emphasis on banning rifles and magazines rather than concentrating on firearms held by individuals prohibited from owning them.
In 2009, amid criticism from the NRA, several mayors publicly reaffirmed their commitment to MAIG, stressing that the coalition did not aim to abolish guns or infringe upon Second Amendment rights.
Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America
Founded on December 15, 2012—just one day after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting—Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America began as a grassroots Facebook group called "One Million Moms for Gun Control," initiated by Shannon Watts in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization rapidly expanded into a nationwide advocacy movement with 130,000 members and chapters across all 50 states by the end of 2013. It functions as a campaign under the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and draws inspiration from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
The group actively lobbies Congress to broaden background check requirements for firearm purchases and has successfully influenced corporate policies, notably convincing Starbucks to prohibit guns within its establishments. Moms Demand Action also endorses congressional candidates who support its objectives.
Its advertising campaigns have likened restrictions on assault weapons to previous successful bans on products such as Kinder Surprise chocolates and certain books. In December 2013, Moms Demand Action merged with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to create Everytown for Gun Safety. By 2017, the organization reported a membership base of four million.
Following the Parkland shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Moms Demand Action initiated efforts urging streaming platforms to remove NRATV, the NRA’s online channel. On April 27, 2023, Angela Ferrell-Zabala was named the group’s first executive director; she had formerly served as Senior Vice President of Movement Building at Everytown.
Students Advocate for Gun Reform in America
Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America serves as the youth division of Everytown. In the aftermath of the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman-Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students called on Everytown for Gun Safety to establish a dedicated student-led branch. Responding to this request, Everytown launched the initiative and began accepting applications for new chapters early that same year. Following the March for Our Lives demonstration in Washington, D.C., Everytown announced a $1 million grant to support rapid expansion.
Chapters of Students Demand Action operate under objectives determined by student leaders and advisors, working collaboratively with Everytown’s national team as well as local Moms Demand Action groups to align advocacy strategies. In early 2019, legislative advocacy events were jointly organized by Moms Demand Action and local Students Demand Action chapters across several states. As of 2025, Everytown reports more than 900 active chapters throughout the country.
NRA opposition
In September 2009, the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) criticized Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), arguing that the group’s focus extended beyond illegal firearms to an anti-gun agenda. The NRA encouraged its members to lobby their mayors to withdraw from MAIG. By October 2009, NRA spokeswoman Rachel Parsons noted that the number of participating mayors had decreased from 463 to under 400 following an NRA letter-writing campaign. Nonetheless, Mayor Bloomberg asserted that although 60 mayors resigned, 110 new ones joined during that period.
The NRA’s critiques frequently targeted Bloomberg, a co-founder of MAIG. In their publication America's 1st Freedom, the NRA depicted Bloomberg as a "billionaire Boston-born advocate for the nanny state" leading a "conspiracy." Contributor James O. E. Norell labeled Bloomberg a "national gun-control vigilante," while the magazine cover illustrated him as a "giant octopus" with multiple tentacles.
The NRA website listed 73 mayors who had withdrawn from MAIG, including 15 from Pennsylvania. Among them was Mayor Mary Wolf of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, who resigned citing her belief that MAIG’s goal was to dismantle all gun ownership rather than just illegal firearms. John Tkazik, mayor of Poughkeepsie, New York, an NRA member and former MAIG participant, stepped down alongside approximately 50 others, accusing MAIG of advocating for confiscating guns from law-abiding citizens under the pretense of fighting crime.
Additionally, the NRA alleged that MAIG had used some mayors’ names without their consent or incorrectly identified them as members.
Debate Over School Shooting Definitions
Following the February 14, 2018 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, Everytown identified it as the 18th school shooting that year—a figure described by The Washington Post as "completely inaccurate." Everytown’s count included incidents such as a 31-year-old man’s suicide in a closed school parking lot in Michigan and a third-grader accidentally firing an officer’s holstered firearm. Their criteria define a school shooting as "any instance in which a firearm discharges a live round inside a school building or on school grounds." According to USA Today, only six incidents had occurred since January 1, 2018, while Time recorded four.
This method of classification also faced scrutiny in 2014 when Everytown reported there had been 74 school shootings since the Sandy Hook tragedy.