Gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety has tapped Washington D.C.-based government relations firm Subject Matter for help with legislative issues pertaining to firearms.
Everytown for Gun Safety works to educate policy makers and the public on firearms issues and advocates national efforts to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, with a noted focus on the requirement of universal background checks for firearms purchases.
The New York-based nonprofit was founded in 2014, the result of a merger between two previous anti-gun movements: Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
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According to lobbying registration documents filed in May, one legislative issue of particular concern to the organization involves a bill introduced earlier this year pertaining to gun silencers, or the noise suppressor devices mounted onto the barrel of firearms.
The Hearing Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), would remove silencers from the purview of the National Firearms Act under the rubric of public health — notably, hearing safety. Donald Trump Jr. has publicly expressed support of the bill, claiming silencers provide hearing protection for hunters.
Critics claim such a law would make it easier for people with firearms to evade detection from law enforcement while committing crimes.
A four-person team handles the account, including partners and co-founders Jimmy Ryan, former legal counsel to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; and Steve Elmendorf, who served as senior advisor to former Democratic leader Dick Gephardt and was also chief of staff to Gephardt’s presidential bid as well as a deputy campaign manager during John Kerry’s White House run.
Ryan and Elmendorf are joined by Tom Lopach, former chief of staff to Sen. Jon Tester and field representative to Rep. Pat Williams (R-MT); and Kristi Kennedy, a former field representative to Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD).
Subject Matter is the combined PR operation of Home Front Communications and Democratic lobbying firm Elmendorf|Ryan, which merged in 2015.
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