Make Things Happen. No Excuses.

Within a day of our rally in D.C. in 2022, Senator Chris Murphy unveiled a bipartisan gun reform proposal, backed by 10 Republicans, marking the first federal legislation on gun safety in almost three decades—the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Additionally, over 20 state laws were enacted, aimed at holding gun manufacturers responsible, curbing firearm advertising, and prohibiting assault weapons. Furthermore, we mobilized thousands of fresh organizers dedicated to bolstering youth participation in voting, advancing legislative initiatives, and obtaining support for community-based solutions.

After we conducted an investigation of the NRA, we sent a letter to the New York State Attorney General detailing complaints and potential governance irregularities that we thought warranted further investigation. Not long after, the Attorney General opened an investigation and took Wayne LaPierre to court. Now, the NRA is in a death spiral. They’ve lost millions of members and seen their revenue plummet, and their once untouchable CEO Wayne LaPierre—who just days after the Sandy Hook tragedy said, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun”—resigned his position in disgrace just before his day in court. In February 2024, that court found LaPierre liable in a civil corruption trial. Thoughts and prayers, NRA.

In September 2023, after years of concerted pressure and advocacy from March For Our Lives members, President Biden created the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. MFOL was the first national gun violence prevention group to voice our demand and what was then believed to be too bold. Four years since our first call for its creation, our ask was finally answered. The office marshals a holistic government approach to preventing gun violence. With a cohesive strategy, a senior leader in the White House and the ear of the President, the Office can help unlock the cumulative power of the government to help save our lives. This office isn’t just a victory—it’s a tipping point that goes to show we are making clear and significant progress in our fight. This is a monumental moment for March For Our Lives, every young person who’s hidden under a desk during a lockdown drill, and every parent who’s lost a child at the hands of a gun.

The Illinois State Legislature passed the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which includes a ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, rapid-fire “switches,” increases Firearm Restraining Orders from 6 months to a year, and addresses illegal gun trafficking. March For Our Lives organizers in Illinois joined over 100 gun safety advocates to pressure the legislature to act urgently and quickly to save lives. Chilling testimony from gun violence survivors portrayed precisely what’s at stake: our lives and the lives of young people. We’re pleased to see that legislators listened and put the safety of their constituents first.

This landmark legislation will reduce suicide, domestic violence, and daily gun violence from devastating communities. Illinois will be placed among eight other states and D.C. with some form of an assault weapon ban. While we wish the bill had tighter limits, like closing the domestic gun violence loophole, we’re pleased to see Governor Pritzker sign the bill.

A year after the shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, some of the very same young people who survived the shooting at their high school went on to survive their second school shooting at Michigan State University (MSU) in February. In the wake of tragedy, MSU students jumped into action to support their community and advocate for gun safety. The MFOL chapter on MSU’s campus held a vigil with 5,000 students and faculty to honor the lives lost. With the support of the MFOL team, students hosted several protests at the Michigan Capitol to demand action. 

And it worked: In April, with MFOL activists by her side, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law the first gun safety package in Michigan in 40 years, including safe storage, universal background checks, and extreme risk protection orders. It’s clear that without the continued pressure from MFOL and Oxford and MSU survivors, this would not have happened.

In September 2023, just days after Biden created the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, California Governor Gavin Newsom joined the sweeping wins for young people by signing into law two life-saving bills to aid in the fight to end gun violence.

AB 28 provides a consistent funding source for evidence-based gun violence prevention programs, like community violence intervention programs, to the tune of $160 million a year. This bill holds the gun industry accountable for the damage they cause instead of making taxpayers clean up yet another one of their messes. SB 2 strengthens state laws to ensure a high standard of safety and responsibility for gun owners, adding safer restrictions to concealed carry in the state of California. 

A month prior, MFOL hosted a lobby day with students and activists at the California State Capitol to push for these bills. From rallying to consistent and lengthy lobbying and conversations with legislators, March For Our Lives and youth activists all over the state helped make this possible.

Every year since our first March in 2018, we’ve worked tirelessly on the ground to kick out NRA cronies and elect gun safety candidates. And every year since our first March in 2018, young people have turned out to vote in record numbers—making the margin of victory in a number of states, and ushering in the end of the NRA’s grip of congress. Our polls indicate we are one of the most recognized messengers in the civic engagement space, and we’ve contacted millions of youth voters to encourage them to vote for gun safety candidates—and kick right wing extremists out.