What gun control group should I join?
December 15, 2012 5:03 PM Subscribe
What pro-gun-control group should I join? I want to find a group that spends its money effectively, and that will lobby for sensible gun regulations.
I think the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is a fantastic organization.
I myself support The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. I prefer the directness with which they engage with the NRA.
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:23 PM on December 15, 2012
I myself support The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. I prefer the directness with which they engage with the NRA.
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:23 PM on December 15, 2012
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
posted by dottiechang at 5:23 PM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by dottiechang at 5:23 PM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Join the NRA. No, I'm serious. Sometimes you have to change things from the inside. If enough NRA members want sensible gun control, then the NRA must either ignore its members wishes (not good for their publicity) or follow them (good for you).
posted by jpeacock at 5:42 PM on December 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by jpeacock at 5:42 PM on December 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
But then you're donating $35 to the NRA, and they get to count you as a member; when they're talking about how many members they are, and thus how powerful they are, it's presumed that all the members are people who support the NRA.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:01 PM on December 15, 2012 [12 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:01 PM on December 15, 2012 [12 favorites]
Most NRA members support gun control. Their leadership has ignored them for ages.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 7:40 PM on December 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 7:40 PM on December 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
I love the Brady Campaign. What I don't love is the incessant literature that gets mailed once you join it. I felt like my money was only going to more mailings. I still want to donate but I want to be off their mailing list. I've asked three times to be taken off the list and it never happens.
I will be watching this thread to see if there are other organizations doing good works.
posted by cooker girl at 7:56 PM on December 15, 2012
I will be watching this thread to see if there are other organizations doing good works.
posted by cooker girl at 7:56 PM on December 15, 2012
Mod note: Folks PLEASE do not turn this into an NRA debate
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:32 PM on December 15, 2012
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:32 PM on December 15, 2012
There are many organizations that seek to change laws regarding firearms. To help people on MeFi best determine what organizations you'd most likely find agreeable, it might help to define "sensible gun regulations". One man's sensible is another's ridiculous.
posted by Brian Puccio at 9:41 PM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Brian Puccio at 9:41 PM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Well, universal background checks and a ban on high-capacity magazines would be a good start.
posted by professor plum with a rope at 10:30 PM on December 15, 2012
posted by professor plum with a rope at 10:30 PM on December 15, 2012
Mod note: Comment deleted. Sorry folks, but this is not a discussion space, and you need to be answering the question.
posted by taz (staff) at 10:50 PM on December 15, 2012
posted by taz (staff) at 10:50 PM on December 15, 2012
Mod note: OP is not anon, please take side questions about this touchy topic to MeMail and answer the question with suggestions of places to donate, full stop.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:30 AM on December 16, 2012
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:30 AM on December 16, 2012
The Children's Defense Fund, which is mentioned in Miko's Wikipedia link, advocates strongly in favor of gun control. They file briefs (.pdf) in support of the laws in cases challenging gun bans and gun control laws. They release regular reports on gun violence in the US and child casualties, they write community toolkits for lobbying for tighter gun laws. Generally, they do a lot of work directed at changing the culture which treats gun violence as normal, however tragic.
Gun control is not the focus of the organization, which is either a bonus or a detriment, depending on your analysis of the issue. Because they frame the issue in terms of larger social welfare questions and talk about how gun control policies aid education policies and lower social welfare costs, however, I think their advocacy is quite compelling. They catch a fair amount of criticism, on the other hand, for "using children to push their agenda" from gun ownership rights advocacy groups.
Its accountability and transparency are given the highest rating at Charity navigator, although its working capital and fundraising efficiency scores are fair to middle.
Marian Wright Edelman, the founder, is a personal hero of mine, but that's not relevant to your interests.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:09 AM on December 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Gun control is not the focus of the organization, which is either a bonus or a detriment, depending on your analysis of the issue. Because they frame the issue in terms of larger social welfare questions and talk about how gun control policies aid education policies and lower social welfare costs, however, I think their advocacy is quite compelling. They catch a fair amount of criticism, on the other hand, for "using children to push their agenda" from gun ownership rights advocacy groups.
Its accountability and transparency are given the highest rating at Charity navigator, although its working capital and fundraising efficiency scores are fair to middle.
Marian Wright Edelman, the founder, is a personal hero of mine, but that's not relevant to your interests.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:09 AM on December 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These are helpful answers. Thanks!
posted by professor plum with a rope at 12:36 PM on December 16, 2012
posted by professor plum with a rope at 12:36 PM on December 16, 2012
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This thread is closed to new comments.
Here is a list on Wikipedia of groups in the US who advocate gun control.
You could go to Charity Navigator to get a glimpse at some of their metrics.
posted by Miko at 5:18 PM on December 15, 2012