Training Technology And Innovation
Everytown wants stricter laws on guns. Now, they’ll also teach you to use one.
Everytown’s controversial move into firearms training draws mixed reactions
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍New York, NY
Everytown for Gun Safety, a group widely known for its advocacy for stricter gun laws and efforts to prevent gun violence, has launched a new program that aims to teach responsible firearm ownership. The new initiative, Train SMART, offers on-demand and Zoom-style courses designed to focus on gun safety without any commercial sales messaging. The courses range from $20 to $100 and are structured to provide an alternative to the often commercially-driven firearm training programs offered by organizations such as the National Rifle Association (NRA). The announcement of Train SMART has sparked strong reactions, especially from within the gun violence prevention community. Sandy Phillips, whose daughter was killed in the 2012 Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shooting, has been vocal in her opposition to the program. Phillips believes that promoting gun ownership through safety training is counterproductive to Everytowns mission of reducing gun violence. She sees it as a contradiction, asserting that the group cannot advocate for gun safety while simultaneously encouraging more people to have firearms in their homes. This backlash is not limited to gun violence prevention advocates. Other long-time supporters of Everytown have resigned in protest of the programs launch. Deborah Parker, whose daughter was murdered in 2006, also expressed her anger. Parker stated that the training program felt like a betrayal of everything theyve worked for, especially when theyve been focused on policies that restrict gun access, like expanded background checks and waiting periods. Despite the internal criticism, Everytowns leadership stands by the program, with veterans advisor Chris Marvin stating that the training was designed to be in line with military principles. Marvin, who helped design the course, emphasized that the program was intended to offer gun safety from trusted sources, focusing on clear guidelines regarding storage, handling, and the potential risks associated with owning a firearm. The program aims to teach gun owners about responsibility, particularly regarding storage safety and preventing gun access by children and others who should not have access. The move comes at a time when the nation is grappling with rising levels of gun violence and increasingly polarized political debates around gun control. Everytowns leaders argue that the training program is part of a broader strategy to reach gun owners who may not identify as part of the pro-gun rights movement, but who still wish to own a firearm responsibly. This approach reflects a shift toward what some researchers are calling a harm reduction model, which focuses on minimizing the risks associated with gun ownership, rather than pushing for outright bans on firearms. There is also a recognition of the broader context in which this program has been launched. Recent data suggests that over the past six years, gun sales have reached record levels, and many of these buyers are first-time gun owners. In fact, between August 2019 and July 2025, over 87 million background checks were conducted, indicating a steady rise in gun ownership. Everytowns Marvin argues that this surge in gun ownership makes it essential for the organization to engage with gun owners and offer them training on how to use and store firearms safely. While the program has been widely criticized, others in the firearms industry see it as a positive development, as it could lead to more responsible firearm ownership. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and the NRA have dismissed the program as an attempt to control firearms ownership by promoting more restrictive measures, yet some experts argue that any effort to provide more education in responsible firearm use should be welcomed. The programs focus on non-lethal conflict resolution, safe storage, and providing a nuanced understanding of gun use in a home-defense context is seen as a significant step forward. Gun training typically centers on the assumption that firearms are necessary for home defense, but Train SMART presents a balanced view by acknowledging that purchasing a gun does not automatically make someone safer. The program also emphasizes safe storage options, such as locked safes, and discourages keeping a loaded firearm accessible at all times.