States United to Prevent Gun Violence is a left-of-center gun-control activism network. In conjunction with its 31 state-level affiliates, it promotes state- and federal-level gun-control legislation. 1
Founding and History
States United to Prevent Gun Violence was founded in 2006 as an umbrella organization to facilitate cooperation between existing state-level gun-control groups and to help form new groups in states without such a group. As of May 2024, it had 31 state affiliates. 2
Financials
In 2023, States United to Prevent Gun Violence reported $65,554 in revenue, the entire amount of which came from grants and contributions. It had $24,641 in expenses, of which $17,333 was paid to independent contractors, and no money was spent on salaries or employee compensation. It ended the year with a net income of $40,913 and net assets of $85,992. 3
Programs
States United to Prevent Gun Violence provides support to its 31 state affiliate organizations. It provides operations and strategic support and promotes networking opportunities to promote collaboration among gun control activists across the country. It promotes various affiliates on social media, helps to form new state level affiliates, provides activist training and resources, can provide witnesses for legislative testimony, and hosts conferences and facilitates information sharing. 4
State Affiliates
States United to Prevent Gun Violence has 31 state affiliates across the country. These groups work to promote gun control legislation and can receive assistance and support from States United with no membership fees. 5
Organization Philosophy
States United to Prevent Gun Violence advocates for several broad anti-gun measures on both the state and federal level. 6
The group promotes requiring background checks through a Federal Firearm Licensee for every single firearm transactions, specifically targeting private transaction by individuals. It also advocates for a ban on common rifles it calls “assault weapons” and a federal mandate that all firearms be “secured,” with confiscation of firearms that are deemed not to be secured. It also promotes abolishing the Senate filibuster rule, claiming that it is a roadblock to its gun control objectives. 7
Leadership
Jeremy Stein is the executive director of States United to Prevent Gun Violence. He became executive director in May 2024. Prior to this role, he had a long history of working in the gun control space. This includes working on the Biden-Harris transition team and two state committees in Connecticut. For the previous six years he worked as the executive director of CT Against Gun Violence, a state affiliate of State United. 8
Sonya Coleman is the chair of the board for States United to Prevent Gun Violence, a position she has held since June of 2022. Prior to this, she was the treasurer starting in August 2021. She has been a deputy chapter lead of the Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action since January 2013. 9
References
- “States United to Prevent Gun Violence.” Supgv.org. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://supgv.org/
- “ States United to Prevent Gun Violence.” Supgv.org. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://supgv.org/.
- States United to Prevent Gun Violence, Return of an organization exempt from taxation (Form 990-EZ) Part I, 2023.
- “States United to Prevent Gun Violence.” Supgv.org. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://supgv.org/
- “Our Affiliates.” Supgv.org. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://supgv.org/our-affiliates/.
- “Bills to Support.” Supgv.org, Accessed May 13, 2024. https://supgv.org/bills-to-support/.
- “Bills to Support.” Supgv.org, Accessed May 13, 2024. https://supgv.org/bills-to-support/.
- “New Executive Director.” Supgv.org, May 1, 2024. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://supgv.org/2024/04/30/new-executive-director-may-1-2024/.
- “Sonya Y. Coleman.” LinkedIn.com. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-y-coleman-123a0349/details/experience/.