Frequently Asked Questions

Our name was inspired by a 2018 Quinnipiac University poll, which found that 97% of Americans support universal background checks: a critical gun safety policy that has yet to be made into federal law. While individual polls vary, support levels hover around 90% – a figure that represents unprecedented agreement on a topic viewed as intractable. We are committed to making progress on solutions that non-gun owners and gun owners want to make our country safer.

We are a group of bipartisan philanthropists, activists, community leaders, researchers, and concerned citizens, including two former NRA lobbyists.

Some of us are gun owners. Some of us are not. Regardless, we are united in our belief that ALL Americans want to reduce gun violence in this country while keeping their families safe. And we are tired and frustrated about the lack of change at a federal level for an issue where there is extremely broad support for change. This change can only happen when we truly listen to each other and hear each others’ concerns.

97Percent was established in 2020 after a year of meeting with experts in the field of gun safety and trying to identify a way to make progress on this intractable issue. It was a conversation with Chief William Bratton, who served as Police Commissioner for the cities of New York, Boston and Los Angeles, and Richard Aborn, former president of the Brady Campaign, that first spurred the idea of focusing on engaging gun owners. 97Percent then engaged with the firm SS&K and Quadrant Strategies, who conducted in-home interviews with gun owners in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania; conducted focus groups in Florida, Ohio, and Colorado; and conducted a national survey in purple states across the country. That research formed the foundation of 97Percent.

97Percent is focused on where we agree and on what is most effective at reducing gun deaths. There is overwhelming support for policies such as red flag laws and universal background checks -- among both gun owners and non-gun owners -- whereas only 37% of gun owners support an assault weapons ban. And research suggests an assault weapons ban is less effective than other measures at reducing gun deaths.

Our advisory board is comprised of a bipartisan group of activists, community leaders, researchers, and concerned citizens, including two former NRA lobbyists. Part of the light we are shining is that gun owners aren’t a monolithic group. We have gun owners in our organization and on our leadership team who are Republicans and Democrats – people who are actively involved in the gun community, veterans and hobbyists.

The slippery slope argument is a false choice. If you care about keeping those around you safe, and you have concerns about protecting your rights, engaging in conversation is the only way to accomplish both goals.

Yes! We are highlighting that gun owners aren’t a monolithic group. In our organization and on our leadership team, we have gun owners and non-gun owners, Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. Our team includes people who are vocally involved in the gun-owning community, veterans, and hobbyists.

There are a lot of organizations doing great work in the gun safety space, and many of them are engaging gun owners in some way. But it is not the sole focus of these organizations, whereas it is essential to our mission at 97Percent. We believe we cannot propel the gun safety movement forward if we do not bring gun owners into the conversation.

97Percent is focused on technology, including supporting entrepreneurs and making direct investments in the gun safety space.