A new organization, Legislators for Safer Communities (LSC), has been formed with the stated goal of promoting community safety through legislative efforts. According to a press release issued by a coalition of five gun control groups, LSC is described as “an independent, nonpartisan coalition of state legislators.” The press release claims that the organization has 171 members from 43 states, although its website states that its members span all 50 states without providing a full list of members.
Despite its claims of independence and nonpartisanship, the organization has come under scrutiny for the political affiliations of its leadership. All known members of its Co-Chairs and Steering Committee are Democrats, raising questions about the group’s nonpartisan nature.
LSC’s stated mission is to serve as a hub for legislative resources, messaging, research, and peer networking among state lawmakers. However, some observers have noted that several established gun control organizations—such as Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, and Brady—already provide similar resources, leading to questions about the necessity of this new group. The press release praising the creation of LSC was posted on Everytown’s website, a well-known advocacy group supported by Michael Bloomberg, which has long been involved in legislative efforts against gun violence.
LSC appears to be focused on state-level legislation, potentially filling what its founders perceive as a gap left by other national organizations in terms of state-specific coordination. However, critics point out that the group’s formation may reflect dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of existing organizations in promoting anti-gun legislation.
While LSC claims to provide a new platform for state legislators advocating for stricter gun laws, its overall impact on gun control efforts remains unclear. The group currently represents a small percentage of state legislators across the U.S., with an average of fewer than four members per state. This raises doubts about its potential influence, especially in states where Second Amendment rights are strongly defended.
As the group begins its work, it is likely to face ongoing challenges in advancing its agenda, especially in states with strong pro-gun legislation. Despite its ambitions, LSC may struggle to significantly shift the landscape of gun control legislation, both at the state and national levels. Nonetheless, gun rights advocates are closely monitoring the organization’s activities as part of the broader efforts within the gun control movement.
