“Let North and South – let all Americans – let all lovers of liberty everywhere join in the great and good work.”

  • Abraham Lincoln, Speech at Peoria, October 16, 1854”

BACKGROUND

Every time there is a mass shooting, there are loud calls for reasonable gun control measures, but the progress is slow, and major change has not materialized.  And, while the shootings have seemed to grow in frequency in recent years, this has been the cycle for decades . . . mass shooting, calls for action, no change.   If the definition of insanity is trying to do the same thing and expect a different result, gun control advocates have been practicing insanity.

A problem with gun control initiatives to date is that they have explosions of great energy during the aftermath of a mass shooting, that then subsides until the next mass shooting.  But the bigger problem that gun control advocates face is the fact that the legislators in office before a mass shooting are the same people in office after the shooting.  If they would not vote in favor of reasonable gun control before a shooting, it is highly unlikely that they would do so after a shooting.  The may indicate some openness and send their “thoughts and prayers” but, at least so far, they have not voted for major, lasting changes, such as an assault weapons ban.  It was this realization that led to NORA.

A New Mindset

To effect lasting, significant changes, gun control advocates must refocus their energies on the long game, i.e. making sure that we elect legislators who will support reasonable gun control initiatives.  How do we do this?  We can take that lead from the anti-abortion activists who, for many years if not decades, worked to make sure they elected officials who would support the reversal of Roe vs. Wade, culminating with the election President Trump who, by their own admissions, was far from the President they wanted based on values, but he announced his intention to appoint Supreme Court Justices who would reverse Roe, which was enough for many voters.  And he did.

Gun control activists can use the same strategy to move the country towards reasonable gun controls.  They can use the long game to make sure elected officials will support such measures.  But it may take years, if not decades, to get the changes they seek.  Now is the best time to start.

To move in this direction, willingness to support gun control does not have to be the top election issue in each race.  It just has to be one of them . . . a necessary but insufficient condition for election.  Thus, if a candidate does not support gun control, they will not be elected.

The Challenge

The problem with making change through the voting process is that voters may not know the positions of the candidates on gun control.  Such information is not well publicized or easy to find.  The media covers the voting records of gun rights supporters, much more extensively than gun control supporters.  The NRA has a grading system for legislators on well they support the Second Amendment, and legislators are afraid of receiving a low grade from the NRA, and the resulting loss of votes.

The Solution

The mission is a simple initiative to grade legislative candidates on how well they support reasonable gun control measures.  A grading methodology would be created but it will likely be the converse of the NRA grading system.  If a candidate receives an "A" from NRA, that would be a major factor in NORA’s evaluation of the candidate, and he or she may receive an "F" from NORA. if they are ungraded, they will be asked about their views. Over time legislators can be replaced to enable significant laws to be passed.  Grades would be publicized on a national basis.

A grading system has been selected as the platform because it is easy to understand.  Hopefully, over time, as the credibility and impact of the NORA grading system is proven, candidates will make efforts to receive a high NORA grade, much as they now seek to receive a high grade from the NRA, because they want to be elected or re-elected.

It is the long game, but can be successful over time and achieve real and lasting results. We need to make gun control an election issue each and every time. We will publicize their grades, and it is then up to the voters to effect change. We cannot control how they vote. We can only give them an opportunity to make change.

Meet the Co-Founders

  • Greg is a corporate attorney living in Kailua, Hawaii, and has been active in developing social programs and initiatives to help the homeless and hungry and immigrants, and in the innovation sector, supporting entrepreneurs, technology, innovations, and economic development.

  • Max has been working in the nonprofit sector since 2016 organizing, recruiting, training, fundraising, event planning, and more for environmental, political, and public health campaigns in Oregon and the Northeast. Max is originally from Hawaii, and now lives in Denver, CO.