2016 Highlights

Making Advancements in the Fight Against Gun Violence

As the leading experts on United States gun policy, we’re fueling the fight for smart gun laws in three essential areas: legislation, litigation, and education. This year, our staff tracked 1,472 proposed gun bills across all 50 states. And in that analysis, we’ve counted 160 new smart gun laws passed in 42 states and Washington, DC since the tragedy at Sandy Hook. Public support for these policies continues to grow—over 90% of Americans want their lawmakers to pass legislation like universal background checks on every gun purchase.

Another essential aspect of the work we do at the Law Center is to stand up to frivolous lawsuits brought by the gun lobby to undermine smart gun laws already on the books. This work is both rewarding and extraordinarily successful—since the landmark Heller decision in 2008, our movement has defeated the vast majority of these lawsuits in the lower courts. The Supreme Court still declines to hear new gun rights cases each year, too. Our overwhelmingly victorious work in this area proves that gun safety laws do not stand at odds with the Constitution, and that smart, reasonable firearms regulation is absolutely fundamental to the Second Amendment.

Our legal experts have an unrivaled perspective on every aspect of the potential smart gun laws have to save lives, and how they can serve to improve public safety. So much of our work involves educating as many lawmakers, community activists, and the public as possible on the findings of our analysis. Through a collaborative approach, we reach policymakers and advocates to work with the community to reduce shootings, and our powerful library of publications and policy guides promotes the Law Center’s broad base of knowledge on the solutions to the gun violence.

Our legal experts have an unrivaled insight into every aspect of the lifesaving impact smart gun laws have on public safety, and much of our work involves educating as many lawmakers, civic leaders, and citizens as possible on our findings. Through our collaborations with policymakers and advocates, our educational programs, and our robust library of publications and policy guides, the Law Center shares and promotes our thoroughly researched solutions to the gun violence crisis. Our work helps both the public and our leaders make informed decisions about a complex and entrenched issue that affects far too many Americans each year.

We’re proud to have worked to meet so many powerful milestones in 2016.

Since 2008, our movement has defeated a staggering 94% of Second Amendment challenges.