Giffords, a prominent gun control organization, continues to make significant strides in its mission to address gun violence in the United States. Named after its co-founder, former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords (D-AZ), who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, the organization has evolved since its inception as Americans for Responsible Solutions. In 2016, it merged with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which was initially formed after the 1993 California Street shooting.
The group emphasizes that their efforts are “in honor of the victims and survivors of the two shootings that led to our founding, along with every other victim and survivor of gun violence in America.” Giffords highlights issues such as “extremist gun culture” and “structural racism” as contributors to high rates of gun violence. The organization supports various gun control measures including firearms licensing and registration, mandatory waiting periods, bans on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, and strict limits on carrying firearms in public.
Financially supported by donor-advised fund providers like Donor Advised Charitable Giving and Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund among others from 2022 to 2023, Giffords Law Center raised over $20 million during this period. Additionally, significant contributions came from private foundations such as the Joyce Foundation. In 2023 alone, Giffords Law Center transferred $2.79 million to its sister organization Giffords.
The affiliated Giffords PAC played a notable role during election cycles by contributing predominantly to Democratic candidates—97 percent in 2022 and 99 percent in 2024—and directing nearly all independent expenditures against Republicans.
In comparison, Brady is another key player within major American gun control groups. Established originally as the National Council to Control Handguns in 1974 and later renamed Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in honor of Jim Brady—who was shot during an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan—the organization follows a three-point strategy similar to past public safety campaigns.
Brady’s approach includes enacting comprehensive gun control laws such as universal background checks; applying pressure on the firearms industry through lawsuits; and changing cultural perceptions about guns through initiatives targeting Hollywood portrayals. The group connects gun violence with broader social issues like racial injustice while advocating for policy measures that avoid exacerbating disparities or criminalizing affected communities.
From 2022-2023 Brady received funding from entities including Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund alongside several charitable trusts. During election cycles spanning these years both organizations aligned themselves primarily with Democratic candidates but varied slightly regarding independent expenditure strategies against Republican counterparts.
