Gun Violence: Prep Guide

Core Message:

Congress chose to legalize the gun that killed the Newtown children. It’s time to make it right. 

Commonly Asked Questions:

Q: Would closing the private sales loophole prevent private citizens from selling firearms?

A: Yes, gun show loophole legislation allows for private sales to continue, so long as a background check is performed on the buyer.

Q: Are guns that are commonly called assault weapons more dangerous than other firearms?

A: Yes, assault weapons are designed to be more lethal than other firearms.

Q: Have any proposals been put forward which would result in federal gun confiscation?

A: No, an assault weapons ban would allow current owners to keep their weapons.

Q: Does the public support gun violence prevention measures?

A: Yes, specific proposals, such as the assault weapons ban and requiring background checks on every gun purchase, have strong public support.

Q: Does the NRA have the ability to remove from office politicians who support stronger gun laws?

A: The NRA’s ability to influence electoral cutcomes has been vastly overstated by the media. 95% of the money the NRA spent in 2012 went to losing races.

How to respond?

When they say: “An attempt to regulate firearms is in violation of the Second Amendment.”

We reply: “The Supreme Court says guns can be regulated in a manner consistent with the Second Amendment.”

When they say: “Weaker gun laws lead to lower crime rates.”

We reply: “Greater firearm availability is actually linked to higher rates of homicide and suicide.”

When they say: “The Obama administration has proposed using an executive order to outlaw guns.”

We reply: “Executive order proposals on gun violence have not involved restricting weapons that law-abiding Americans can purchase.”

For the full Message Matters memo, click here.