John—
The NRA has long been the most recognizable face of the gun industry, but thanks to numerous scandals, it hasn’t been the leading force of the gun lobby for years. Instead, a lesser-known organization has stepped up to the plate: the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
The NSSF is essentially the gun industry—which makes it responsible for this country’s gun violence epidemic.
As the national trade association for gun manufacturers and sellers, the NSSF wields a great deal of influence. But not many people outside the industry have ever heard of it. We’re here to change that.
Here’s what you need to know about the NSSF:
- It’s funded by firearm executives.
- It has ties to extremist groups and funds right-wing politicians, taking on the same positions as the NRA.
- It uses mass shootings like Sandy Hook and Uvalde to push its dangerous “guns everywhere” agenda.
- It holds sway over the federal agency that oversees the gun industry.
The NSSF relies on hatred and division in our society to sell guns and assault weapons, and it’s working. In fact, the NSSF is so focused on profits that it ignores the fact that more than a hundred Americans die from gun violence every day.
The first step to ending our nation’s gun violence epidemic is understanding the problem. The NSSF is at the root of this crisis, and we must make sure more Americans know what it is and how we can stop it—and that’s what Giffords is fighting to do. Read more about the NSSF’s dangerous behavior and our efforts to hold it accountable.
All my best,
Lindsay
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Lindsay Nichols
Federal Policy Director
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
