Nation’s Leading Gun Safety Organizations Applaud Creation of ‘Legislators for Safer Communities’

Legislators for Safer Communities is Comprised of 171 Lawmakers Representing 43 States Across the Country, All Committed to Reducing Gun Violence

NEW YORK – Today, five of the nation’s leading gun violence prevention organizations, Brady, Community Justice, Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, and March For Our Lives, issued the following statements applauding the launch of Legislators for Safer Communities, an independent, nonpartisan coalition of 171 state legislators, representing 43 states across the country, committed to reducing gun violence.

Legislators for Safer Communities is led by six co-chairs and 22 steering committee members who are champions of gun violence prevention in their states. The slate of leaders embodies a representative and geographically diverse group who have varied experiences surrounding gun violence, including many of whom are survivors and who represent communities disproportionately impacted by gun violence.

“Gun violence in America is not inevitable, and when lawmakers pass common sense gun safety laws, the research is clear: lives are saved,” said Monisha Henley, senior vice president for government affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety. “State lawmakers are on the frontlines of combatting our gun violence epidemic and by launching this coalition, legislators from across the country will work together to turn the tide on this preventable crisis. We applaud the leaders who have joined forces to advocate for the safety of our communities and call on other lawmakers to join in the fight.”

“Since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, more than 600 gun safety bills have been passed in nearly every state. Progress has been possible and lives have been saved because of brave lawmakers who have stood up for what is right. GIFFORDS is proud to support Legislators for Safer Communities in the fight to end gun violence,” said Sean Holihan, State Legislative Director, GIFFORDS.

“All politics is local, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to combating gun violence and protecting young people’s lives,” said Madelyn Cobb, Policy and Government Affairs Manager at March For Our Lives. “As a grassroots youth-led movement, we know that the folks closest to the problem are often closest to the solution, and we know that that means that real, lasting change starts at the local level. When federal progress stalled, we made enormous progress at the state level–including in our home state of Florida. We’re excited to fight for grassroots solutions by supporting this coalition alongside our friends in the gun safety movement to invest in and lift up state and local leaders as they work to solve the gun violence epidemic. From every corner of the country, these lawmakers prove that progress is possible when we put young people’s lives and safety first.”

“When Congress is gridlocked, we have watched state legislators across the country who understand that gun violence is preventable, work relentlessly in their statehouses to keep their communities safe from gun violence,” said Tanya Schardt, Senior Counsel and Senior Director of State and Federal Policy at Brady. “Now, with the formation of this new coalition, their efforts have been united as they pursue their shared goals: to save lives through common sense and evidence-based policies. Brady applauds these champions and supports their efforts.” 

“States are leading the way when it comes to implementing public health solutions to gun violence, building a sustainable public health and safety infrastructure, uplifting Black and Brown communities that are disproportionately impacted by gun violence, and advancing policies that address the root causes of violence,” said Adzi Vokhiwa, Vice President of Policy at Community Justice. “This coalition will ensure that the state legislators across the country who are determined to stop gun violence in all forms can share best practices and learn from one another. Community Justice is honored to support these incredible leaders and applauds the creation of Legislators for Safer Communities.”

Legislators for Safer Communities will serve as a hub for collaboration, partnership, shared resources, strategy, research, and peer networking. The coalition will work in partnership with Brady, Community Justice, Everytown, GIFFORDS, and March For Our Lives. Learn more about Legislators for Safer Communities at legislatorsforsafercommunities.org. 

Co-Chairs:

Senate Majority Whip Tizzy Lockman, Delaware

Representative Christine Hunschofsky, Florida

Representative Bob Morgan, Illinois

Representative Keturah Herron, Kentucky

Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui, Nevada

Representative Liz Berry, Washington 

Steering Committee:

Senator Loki Tobin, Alaska

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, California

Assemblymember Mike Gipson, California

Senator Tom Sullivan, Colorado

Senate Majority Whip Tizzy Lockman, Delaware

Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, Delaware

Representative Christine Hunschofsky, Florida

Representative Michelle Au, Georgia

Representative Nabeela Syed, Illinois

Representative Bob Morgan, Illinois

Representative Keturah Herron, Kentucky

Senator Royce Duplessis, Louisiana

Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross, Maine

Senator Jeff Waldstreicher, Maryland

House Majority Whip Ranjeev Puri, Michigan

Representative Cedrick Frazier, Minnesota

Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui, Nevada

Senator Debra Altschiller, New Hampshire

Representative Andrea Romero, New Mexico

Senator Zellnor Myrie, New York

Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, Pennsylvania

Representative Justin J. Pearson, Tennessee

Senator Roland Gutierrez, Texas

Delegate Nadarius Clark, Virginia

Delegate Cia Price, Virginia

Representative Liz Berry, Washington

Representative Deb Andraca, Wisconsin

Representative Shelia Stubbs, Wisconsin