New Coalition Calls on Corporate America to End Gun Violence
December 18, 2024
Guns Down America’s Business Must Act campaign announces new coalition partners
WASHINGTON — Today, Guns Down America, one of the nation’s leading gun violence prevention groups, announces new Business Must Act partnerships. This diverse coalition spans gun violence prevention groups, faith leaders, youth activists, LGBTQ+ leaders, women’s groups, AAPI advocates, mothers, teachers, and more, calling on businesses across the country to do their part to curb gun violence.
Business Must Act is a corporate accountability campaign aimed squarely at getting America’s favorite brands to do their part in reducing gun violence through a scorecard that shows which businesses are helping reduce gun violence and which are failing to act. These new partnerships come as Americans kick off a busy season of holiday spending. With the average shopper planning to spend $1,000+ on holiday gifts, consumers have the power to turn dollars into demand from the retailers they choose to shop their values with.
You Can Review the Complete Gun Safety Scorecard Here
The full list of partnerships:
Coalition for a Safer Delaware
Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence
Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence
Progressive Leadership Initiative Education Fund
States United to Prevent Gun Violence
Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence
The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society
Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund
“Knowing that a store prioritizes the safety of its customers by prohibiting firearms gives me peace of mind—allowing me to enjoy my shopping experience without fear, without scanning for an exit, and without looking over my shoulder. There are millions of Americans, just like me, who understand that a safe and enjoyable shopping experience is cultivated by stores who share our values and ask customers to leave their weapons behind. We’re asking businesses everywhere to promise a sense of community and security by changing their policies, creating gun-free spaces, and speaking out about an epidemic that threatens people and businesses alike by mobilizing their consumers,” said Guns Down America Executive Director Hudson Munoz. “This campaign is about making personal consumer choices to shop with retailers who don’t allow guns. Every business on this list has the ability to improve their grade by asking customers not to bring weapons into their stores and investing in the communities they serve to reduce violent crimes. We know this is a winning model: We pushed brands like Walmart and Subway to end open carry policies in their stories. Now, with a strong coalition of partners behind the Business Must Act campaign, we are leveraging consumer power like never before to move our favorite retailers to action if they want to retain our business. This is what it looks like to turn dollars into demand.”
Quotes from our Partners:
“Gun violence disproportionately affects communities of color, including AAPI communities,” said Varun Nikore, Executive Director of the AAPI Victory Alliance. “Business Must Act challenges corporations during this holiday season. Asian Americans have $1.3 trillion in purchasing power, and with that, we demand that these corporations prioritize public safety over financial gain to keep our schools and neighborhoods safe. Together, with our partners at Guns Down America, we can build a safer, more equitable future for generations to come.”
“At the Coalition for a Safer Delaware, we believe that businesses have a crucial role to play in ensuring the safety of our communities. By choosing to support companies that prioritize our well-being and demanding accountability from those that don’t, we can drive meaningful change in our goal to end gun violence,” said Traci Manza Murphy, Executive Director of Coalition for a Safer Delaware. “We’re proud to partner with Guns Down America on the Business Must Act campaign. It’s time for businesses to step up and put the safety of their customers and our communities first.”
“We’ve had enough of the complacency of corporate America in the gun violence epidemic. Corporations have the responsibility to make their places of business safe from guns. They also have the influence to change policy and culture to improve our safety everywhere,” said Celeste Iroha, CEO, Founder & President of Enough of Gun Violence. “The Business Must Act campaign from Guns Down America is a crucial step toward holding corporations accountable. We stand united in the fight for safer communities for all.”
“Through innovative and visionary approaches, Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence is connecting and supporting faith leaders and communities across the country who are working every day to end gun violence. One thing that faith communities and American businesses have in common is that our respective work connects with people in their day-to-day lives,” said The Rev. Hope A.J. Christensen, Co-Founder & CEO of Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence. “The values that faith communities offer can inspire and inform how they make choices as consumers and engage with businesses. American businesses can make those choices easier and more meaningful by acting responsibly to protect the communities we serve and share. To achieve our vision of a safer future, we must connect in our shared values to end gun violence.”
“The gun lobby’s participation in corporate culture is a threat to the livelihoods of our communities. We believe that corporations should be held accountable for their role in America’s gun violence problem. Consumers have the right to know the values of the businesses they are shopping with,” said Nan Garrett-Logan, President of Falmouth Gun Safety Coalition. “The Business Must Act campaign brings these ideas to the forefront. It is long overdue that our shopping experiences be met with conscious responsibility.”
“The LGBTQ+ community has disproportionately been impacted by America’s gun violence epidemic. If they want our business, corporate America needs to stand with us to break the cycle of gun-related tragedies. It’s time for businesses to step up, support common-sense gun reforms, cut their ties with the gun industry, and create safer environments for their customers and community alike,” said Sarah Germain Lilly, Secretary of Gays Against Guns. “This new campaign with Guns Down America calls on businesses to reject deadly deals and save lives. Silence and inaction are not an option.”
“There are easily 100 things we can do to reduce gun violence in Illinois. It’s about a lot more than just legislation. That’s why we are so excited to partner with Guns Down America on their Business Must Act initiative, which is all about making our public spaces like restaurants, shops, and banks safer for us every day,” said Stuart A. Reid, Founder of Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence. “It’s about holding retailers accountable for profiting off death and destruction in our communities. And it’s about giving consumers the information they need to make shopping with their values an easy lift. The Alliance is proud to partner with Guns Down America as they work to empower consumers to bring about a safer country.”
“Businesses can no longer look away from the crisis of gun violence in America. Our generation refuses to accept inaction while our lives are at stake in the classroom and in our communities,” said Natalie Fall, Executive Director of March for Our Lives. “We are proud to be joining Guns Down America in the Business Must Act initiative. We call on businesses to put people over profits and use their power to change the political and cultural landscape around guns. Businesses have a role to play in creating a future free from gun violence, and today, we’re demanding they act.”
“Newtown Action Alliance is proud to support the Business Must Act campaign led by Guns Down America. We believe that businesses have a powerful role to play in creating safer communities, and for too long, they’ve been watching silently from the sidelines—or worse—actively profiting from ties with the gun industry,” said Po Murray, Co-Founder & Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. “Our children, families, and communities deserve to live free from the constant threat of gun violence. Corporate America has a role to play in ending this senseless gun violence epidemic.”
“Businesses have the power to prevent gun violence and protect our communities. We’re teaming up with Guns Down America to make sure young people know which brands are leading the way—and which need to step up,” said Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, President & Executive Director of NextGen America. “Gun violence is a top concern for young people in America, and where we choose to shop can have an impact. We can support businesses that are doing their part to end gun violence and put those who are profiting off it on alert: either join our fight to end gun violence or lose our business.”
“Nuns Against Gun Violence is a coalition of Catholic Sisters who today are asking the business community to value human life over guns,” said Angela Howard-McParland, Founder of Nuns Against Gun Violence. “Business Must Act is a collaborative plan to work together against the crisis of gun violence—this is a new opportunity and moral imperative to keep our communities safe.”
“Gun violence is a public health crisis, and businesses have both the influence and responsibility to advocate for safer policies that protect their customers, employees, and communities. We believe our business leaders must adopt responsible practices, end partnerships with the gun industry, and support common-sense gun reform,” said Nick Guthman, Co-Founder & Co-President of Progressive Leadership Initiative Education Fund. “We are proud to join Guns Down America’s Business Must Act campaign, standing with communities across the nation to demand accountability from corporate leaders. Together, we can build a future where corporate actions prioritize safety and responsibility.”
“We all want to feel safe—we want to know that our families, and especially our children, are safe around this holiday season. Regardless of whether we are in a school, a house of worship or at a business, we should feel that we are safe from gun violence in America,” said Jeremy Stein, Executive Director of States United to Prevent Gun Violence. “We know that the most effective efforts to tackle America’s gun violence problem have come from the states, with the support of our communities and the businesses that serve them. Corporate America joining us in this fight is not just a moral imperative—it’s a good business decision. We are proud to partner with Guns Down America on the Business Must Act campaign. Ensuring safe shopping and working experiences, especially this busy time of year, is crucial for the well-being of our communities everywhere.”
“Today, we join Guns Down America to demand businesses do their part for gun violence prevention in the communities they serve. Especially businesses based in Massachusetts, like T.J. Maxx, which received a C- grade, and Dunkin' Donuts, which received an F grade,” said Sonya Y. Coleman, Executive Director of Stop Handgun Violence. “Corporations have the responsibility to make their places of business safe from guns. It’s time they step up and create policies to prohibit guns in their stores and speak out publicly about gun violence prevention.”
“This year alone, there have been at least 83 school shootings in the United States, tragically resulting in at least 37 individuals being injured or killed—a sobering reminder of the urgent need for action,” said Abbey Clements, Executive Director, Co-Founder & Board Member of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. “As educators, we witness the impact of these violent acts on our students’ sense of safety and their ability to learn. We call on the business community to heed the call from Guns Down America’s Business Must Act campaign to implement responsible policies to help prevent gun violence and foster environments where children can learn and teachers can educate without fear.”
“The Franciscan Peace Center works to promote peace and active nonviolence in society. We call on the business community to join us in interrupting a devastating cycle of gun violence in our country,” said Dr. Jennifer Kryszak, Director of Strategic Planning for The Franciscan Peace Center.
“We need everyone on board to curb gun violence—from faith leaders to business leaders. Together, we can restore peace and safety in our communities,” said Bishop Julius C. Trimble, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, the social justice agency of the United Methodist Church.
“Guns are the #1 killer of children in America—we have a dire responsibility to protect kids and teens from a future marked by the trauma of gun violence. As partners of the Business Must Act campaign, Virginia Moms for Change are today asking the business community to step up and make our country a safer place to raise children,” said Carolyn Kochard, President & Founder of Virginia Moms for Change. “Mothers account for up to 85% of buying decisions—and we’re prepared to leverage our influence to support businesses fighting to end the gun violence epidemic and reject those that are failing to act.”
“At WAVE, we work to influence societal-level choices, and we have the choice to support businesses that prioritize our safety through gun-free shopping experiences—and reject those staying silent,” said Nicholas Matuszewski, Director of Policy & Program of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund. “On average, one person is killed every 11 hours in our state. No industry gets to absolve themselves from our collective fight against gun violence: We need all hands on deck. Every purchase we make has the power to protect our communities. We’re partnering with Guns Down America to hold businesses accountable and save the lives of Wisconsinites.”
“Women are a powerful consumer group, commanding substantial economic influence that businesses recognize and seek to engage,” said Rachel Carmona, Executive Director of Women’s March. “It’s time corporate America does the bare minimum to stand up for women by severing ties with the gun industry and using their influence to interrupt gun violence. By leveraging our purchasing power and economic influence, women can hold not only the gun industry but the industry at large accountable for its role in fueling gun violence. We’re proud to partner with Guns Down America in this fight to protect the thousands of women each year who die from gun violence.”