The Best Way to Stop a Bad Gun Lobbyist Is With a Good Gun Lobbyist By Abby Levine
GREAT title!
http://philanthropy.com/article/The-Best-Way-to-Stop-a-Bad-Gun/136749/
Abby Levine is legal director of Alliance for Justices Bolder Advocacy program, which focuses on getting nonprofits more involved in efforts to influence policy.
from the middle-
In contrast, (c)(4)s may engage in unlimited lobbying. They also face fewer restrictions in their ability to criticize elected officials. In fact, a 501(c)(4) may engage in partisan political activities, provided doing so is not its primary purpose. This includes endorsing and opposing candidates and making independent expenditures.
Can nonprofits mobilize public outrage to put pressure on elected officials before the nation moves on?
The only way to counter groups like the NRA is to get in the game and play in the same arena as they do. As Ms. Giffords wrote in an op-ed announcing her group: Achieving reforms to reduce gun violence and prevent mass shootings will mean matching gun lobbyists in their reach and resources.
That lesson is being learned:
- The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence launched a series of newspaper ads condemning Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a North Dakota Democrat for attacking the presidents proposed changes to gun laws.
- This month, on the second anniversary of the mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., Mr. Bloombergs group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, ran a television ad in which Roxanna Green, the mother of the massacres youngest victim, asks lawmakers to stand up to the gun lobby.
- MomsRising, which recently added gun control to its policy agenda, is circulating a petition demanding that Wal-Mart cease sales of assault weapons.
Even though (c)(4)s are helpful, they are not enough. Political action committeesentities that can devote 100 percent of their resources to supporting or opposing candidatesare also needed. Ms. Giffordss new group, Americans for Responsible Solutions is a Super PAC. Mayor Bloomberg also has one to elect pro-gun-control candidates.