Everytown for Gun Safety has launched a new campaign called “Debunking Gun Myths at the Dinner Table,” which presents a series of statements labeled as myths, followed by what the group claims are facts. The campaign has drawn criticism from some gun rights advocates, including Lee Williams, chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project.
Williams discussed the campaign on Armed American Radio with host Mark Walters. He described Everytown’s approach as poorly executed and questioned the accuracy and logic behind their statements. According to Williams, “Everytown submitted a ‘myth’ and then followed up with what they called a ‘fact,’ but none of it made any sense. The published source for most of this foolishness was ‘Everytown Research,’ which explains a lot.”
One example cited is Everytown’s claim that background checks have blocked more than 5 million gun sales to people who could not legally own guns since 1994. Williams countered that criminals typically obtain firearms through theft or illegal purchases rather than legal channels.
Another point in the campaign states: “People with guns kill people, and more efficiently than people without guns. The US gun death rate is 13 times that of other high-income countries.” Williams noted that Everytown’s data source, GunPolicy.org, is currently offline and questioned its reliability.
The campaign also argues that strong federal gun laws are necessary because many crime guns in cities like Chicago come from states with weaker regulations. Williams responded by questioning why local and state laws would be needed if they are ineffective according to Everytown’s logic.
Regarding school safety, Everytown opposes arming teachers, citing research suggesting increased risks to children and staff. Williams referenced Florida’s Parkland Committee recommendations after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, noting: “The committee strongly supported well-trained, well-armed teachers protecting the lives of their students in our schools.”
On firearm sales to civilians, Everytown claims manufacturers sell AR-15s and similar weapons used by soldiers in battle to the public. Williams disagreed with this characterization.
The discussion reflects ongoing debates over gun policy in the United States, where advocacy groups on both sides frequently challenge each other’s data sources and interpretations.
At the end of his article, Williams encouraged readers to support Buckeye Firearms Association through membership.
