Newton Anti-Gun Violence Group Launches Super PAC Targeting NRA

Newton, MA – A Newton-based group of activists that has fought for decades to prevent gun violence has launched a new super PAC targeting the NRA.

"Don't Be a Target," an initiative from Stop Handgun Violence, has begun fundraising on Kickstarter to combat the nation's leading gun lobby.

The group is primarily known in the greater Boston area for its provocative billboard tracking the number of gun deaths in the United States that loomed over the Mass. Pike outside of Fenway Park for decades.

"We're giving Americans a way to fight the NRA," the group wrote on Kickstarter. "Because thoughts and prayers aren't enough."

John Rosenthal, who established Stop Handgun Violence in 1994 alongside the late Michael Kennedy, led a coalition of Boston business leaders in a partnership with Arnold Worldwide creative agency to form the super PAC, according to a press release.

The goal - to combat the NRA's influence among lawmakers.

"The gun lobby outspends us in every election, but we can fight money with money," Rosenthal said in the release. "People who support common sense gun violence prevention reforms far outnumber the gun lobby. If we get organized and work together, we can, over time, out-raise the gun lobby. Through 'Don't Be a Target' we plan to make gun violence prevention a voting issue and hold this dangerous do-nothing Congress accountable at the ballot box."

The launch of the PAC comes days after Democratic lawmakers, including nine representatives and two senators from Massachusetts, staged a sit-in on the floor of Congress with the aim of forcing a vote on certain gun control measures.

Ultimately, there was no vote.

"Don't Be a Target" will be funded by its Kickstarter campaign, as well as a portion of the proceeds from The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, Rosenthal told the Globe.

The concert will be held in 40 U.S. cities on Sep. 25.

>>>Photo of Stop Handgun Violence billboard courtesy of Flickr user InSapphoWeTrust, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0