Americans for Gun Safety Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Americans for Gun Safety Foundation was an organization whose stated purpose is to promote gun safety
training; promote restrictive gun law
s; restrict gun rights
; and reduce gun crime. Articles by AGS leadership regularly appeared in the Democratic Leadership Council
's magazine Blueprint.
The Americans for Gun Safety Foundation was a project of the Tides Center
, and a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
. Its website stated that the organization "seeks to educate Americans on existing gun laws and new policy options for reducing access to guns by criminals and children and to promote responsible gun ownership." The AGS Foundation funded studies of background check
s at gun show
s and the way states develop mental health records and keep track of those prohibited from purchasing a gun because of mental insanity.
In 2002, the organization orchestrated a $2.8M media campaign to pass gun control initiatives in Colorado and Oregon which included mailings, radio and television ads, and most notability a $1.85M television ad buy featuring Republican senator John McCain
.
Due to the organization's being established by Andrew McKelvey
(the founder of Monster.com), a former member of the board of directors of Handgun Control, Inc.
and the primary founder of the Million Mom March
, gun rights activists frequently made the claim that AGS had all the appearances and affiliations expected of an anti-gun organization. It was thus usually identified as a gun control organization rather than a gun rights organization.
Eventually, AGS merged with Third Way, which describes itself as a "non-profit, non-partisan strategy center for progressives." The site provides a direct link to the Brady Campaign
as well.
The organization is now defunct.
Gun safety
Gun safety is a collection of rules and recommendations that can be applied when handling firearms. The purpose of gun safety is to eliminate or minimize the risks of unintentional death, injury or damage caused by improper handling of firearms....
training; promote restrictive gun law
Gun law
A gun law is a law that pertains to firearms. Restrictions on gun ownership and use vary greatly both by country and the type of firearm used....
s; restrict gun rights
Gun politics
Gun politics addresses safety issues and ideologies related to firearms through criminal and noncriminal use. Gun politics deals with rules, regulations, and restrictions on the use, ownership, and distribution of firearms.-National sovereignty:...
; and reduce gun crime. Articles by AGS leadership regularly appeared in the Democratic Leadership Council
Democratic Leadership Council
The Democratic Leadership Council was a non-profit 501 corporation that, upon its formation, argued the United States Democratic Party should shift away from the leftward turn it took in the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...
's magazine Blueprint.
The Americans for Gun Safety Foundation was a project of the Tides Center
Tides Center
Tides Center is a non-profit organization in the United States which provides fiscal sponsorship for progressive groups. Tides Center is classified a 501 tax-exempt organization by the IRS...
, and a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. Its website stated that the organization "seeks to educate Americans on existing gun laws and new policy options for reducing access to guns by criminals and children and to promote responsible gun ownership." The AGS Foundation funded studies of background check
Background check
A background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual....
s at gun show
Gun show
A gun show is a temporary exhibition or gathering in the United States where firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition, literature, knives, jerky, militaria, and miscellaneous collectibles are displayed, bought, sold, traded, and discussed. Gun shows also often include exhibitions related to...
s and the way states develop mental health records and keep track of those prohibited from purchasing a gun because of mental insanity.
In 2002, the organization orchestrated a $2.8M media campaign to pass gun control initiatives in Colorado and Oregon which included mailings, radio and television ads, and most notability a $1.85M television ad buy featuring Republican senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
Due to the organization's being established by Andrew McKelvey
Andrew McKelvey
Andrew McKelvey was an American businessman and former chairman and chief executive of Monster Worldwide...
(the founder of Monster.com), a former member of the board of directors of Handgun Control, Inc.
Brady Campaign
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence are affiliated non-profit organizations in the United States. They are named after James Brady who was permanently disabled as a result of an assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
and the primary founder of the Million Mom March
Million Mom March
The Million Mom March was a rally on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14, 2000, designed to promote tighter restrictions to keep guns out of the hands of kids and criminals. Supporters claimed that 750,000 people gathered on the National Mall...
, gun rights activists frequently made the claim that AGS had all the appearances and affiliations expected of an anti-gun organization. It was thus usually identified as a gun control organization rather than a gun rights organization.
Eventually, AGS merged with Third Way, which describes itself as a "non-profit, non-partisan strategy center for progressives." The site provides a direct link to the Brady Campaign
Brady Campaign
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence are affiliated non-profit organizations in the United States. They are named after James Brady who was permanently disabled as a result of an assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
as well.
The organization is now defunct.
External links
- Another opinion on AGS from a pro-gun writer.
- Jon Cowan's remarks on AGS at a Democratic Leadership Council conference