AMERICA’S GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC

In the last 15 years, gun violence has accounted for over 1,400,000 deaths & injuries. Every day, 86 Americans are killed with guns.

STATES UNITED TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE (SUPGV) STRIVES TO REDUCE GUN-RELATED DEATH AND INJURY

Despite significant efforts arranging rallies, getting supporters to call Congress, obtaining thousands of signatures and polls showing that 91% of Americans support stricter gun legislation, government has failed to act.

LOBBYING HASN’T WORKED

The formidable gun lobby exerts influence over legislators and spends millions to oppose virtually every form of gun regulation. Given their sway, we looked for an opportunity to create change that didn’t rely on Congress.

FUNDING IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF BUSINESS

We set out to reduce gun-related violence by empowering Americans to exert their influence on the gun lobby with their money, rather than their signatures.

THE GUN LOBBY RELIES ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM GUNMAKERS

Smith & Wesson, Strum Ruger, and Olin are three publicly traded gun companies. Nearly half of their market worth comes from mutual funds, many of which are tied up in the 401k retirement plans belonging to 51 million Americans.

OUR INSIGHT

Millions of Americans are funding gun companies, and they don’t even know it.

OUR IDEA

Unload Your 401k: Expose investors to the truth that their 401k’s are invested in guns and give them a new tool to divest, thereby decreasing the monetary power of the gun lobby

THE CAMPAIGN LYNCHPINS

-The UnloadYour401k website allows visitors to conduct background checks on 401k plans and provides steps on how to divest.

-The provocative PSA, featuring gun violence victims, crystalizes the reason to divest.

A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN TURNS INTO A MOVEMENT

Unload Your 401k was executed with zero production dollars and zero paid media, so we started small, targeting gun violence prevention supporters and local grassroots organizations.

Such was its power, Unload Your 401k caught the attention of celebrities and influencers, who spread the word. With $0 media, the campaign garnered 500 million impressions in one week and thousands of people committed to divest their 401k’s using the #ImUnloading pledge.

THE DIVESTMENT MOVEMENT HAS JUST BEGUN

New individuals, institutions, colleges and religious institutions are joining our mission every day. Based on its initial success, there are plans to make “Unload” a long-running campaign platform with further expansion plans for 2015/2016 to “unload” major tech corporations and college endowments.