The slaughter of innocent children at Sandy Hook Elementary School sent shockwaves
through the nation and ignited a passionate call for our leaders to take steps to prevent gun
violence. When Congress failed to pass any new gun violence prevention legislation in 2013,
including the overwhelmingly popular legislation to expand background checks, state
legislatures answered the call.
Starting last January, legislators in state houses across the country began introducing a
record number of bills to strengthen gun laws. Even states with historically weak gun
laws, like Florida, Missouri, and Texas, took action towards sensible gun legislation. In fact,
twenty-one states enacted new laws to curb gun violence in their communities, with
eight of these states passing major reforms—far eclipsing the corporate gun lobby’s limited
success in state legislatures in 2013.