In 2025, Students Demand Action volunteers like you amazed us with your motivation, dedication, and commitment to making your voices heard. Thanks to people like you, what started as a few groups of students marching with megaphones has turned into over 1,000 groups of students across the US fighting for a future free from gun violence.
2025 Students Demand Action Wrapped
Wins By the Numbers
- There are officially 1,000 Students Demand Action groups and counting across the country!
- Students Demand Action volunteers made 32,200 voter contacts during the 2025 election cycle. Thanks in part to your hard work, we elected—and defended—our gun sense majorities in state legislatures, the courts, and governors’ mansions in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and across the country.
- With the help of volunteers and survivors like you, we passed 51 gun safety policies in 22 states!
- After the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, hundreds of students at over 250 schools across the country took part in our national school walkout to demand action.
- We passed bans on machine gun conversion devices in five states!
- Students took over 30,000 actions online!
- 5,000 students organized in person at Advocacy Days and Students Demand Action events.
Join Students Demand Action to help us keep up the momentum in 2026.
Students Showed Up
This year, Students Demand Action volunteers showed up at Advocacy Days, testified at legislative hearings, and organized in their schools and communities to call for the future free from gun violence we all deserve. Thanks in large part to this advocacy, we defeated 238 gun lobby-priority bills in 31 states and drove over 50 major wins for gun safety nationwide.
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Alabama
Alabama was one of five states in which students pushed for bans on dangerous machine gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), and won!
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Arizona
Arizona students rallied and testified against four dangerous gun bills, including one that would have forced colleges and universities to allow concealed guns on campus, persuading the governor to veto them.
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California
California passed a first-of-its-kind bill stopping the spread of DIY machine guns, leading the way for the whole country—and our California students were instrumental in this major win. They attended Advocacy Day and spoke at committee hearings, made calls and contacted lawmakers at key points when the bill came very (very) close to failing, and held meetings to educate their peers about the dangers of DIY machine guns. Congratulations to all involved in this historic win!
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Colorado
After months of student advocacy (and over 60 testimonies from students!), Colorado passed stronger regulations on deadly semi-automatic weapons that accept high-capacity magazines, ammunition sales, and gun show operators. Colorado was also one of five states in which students pushed for bans on dangerous machine gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), and won!
Special shout-out to the Colorado volunteers who planned and organized the first-ever fully student-led Advocacy Day with high turnout! Well over 100 students showcased our grassroots power and garnered national attention for our movement.
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Georgia
Over 100 students from across the Atlanta University Consortium came together at Morehouse College to host a Gun Violence Prevention Awareness Day. And over 50 students from more than six different schools from across the state attended Georgia’s Advocacy Day, where they shared their stories, spoke with lawmakers, and advocated for more comprehensive secure storage policies.
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Illinois
Students worked hard to pass a homicide data transparency bill and began conversations to introduce our DIY machine gun legislative campaign (which will continue into 2026). Laney, a Students Demand Action leader from the University of Illinois, drove over an hour to testify in person on the transparency bill. And we can’t forget to shout out group leaders like Matthew and Julia, who partnered with Moms Demand Action volunteers to plan a successful Advocacy Day.
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Maryland
In Maryland, students successfully advocated for lawmakers to pass a package of gun safety bills that will help to stop the spread of ghost guns and curb gun trafficking. Two students, Navian and Yasmine, were invaluable spokespeople during this legislative push.
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Maine
For more than two years, our volunteers, survivors, and other gun safety advocates in Maine have demanded change after the devastating 2023 shooting in Lewiston—the deadliest in the state’s history. This November, Mainers voted to pass a strong Red Flag law, giving families and law enforcement a powerful tool to help prevent gun violence in the state. Thank you, volunteers, for your commitment to championing this life-saving law!
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New Jersey
New Jersey volunteers successfully advocated for lawmakers to pass a package of gun safety bills that, among other things:
- Secured critical funding for The Gun Violence Research Center
- Increased protections for victims of domestic violence
- Increased oversight and vetting within firearm sales
- Strengthened gun violence data reporting
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New Mexico
New Mexico was one of five states in which students pushed for bans on dangerous machine gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), and won! More students than ever before came from schools across Albuquerque and Santa Fe to attend New Mexico’s Advocacy Day and demand that lawmakers pass the GOSAFE Act.
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New York
Students gathered at the New York State Capitol, Albany, to influence their lawmakers to pass common-sense gun legislation in April at Advocacy Day. Throughout the day, students met with multiple representatives to advocate for priority policies, including the NY State Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act. Now, the New York State Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) is permanently codified in state law through the FY26 enacted budget. A strong OGVP will help ensure that New York’s gun violence prevention efforts are coordinated, centralized, and effective.
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Oregon
Oregon was one of five states in which students pushed for bans on dangerous machine gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), and won! Students stayed with the bill throughout its entire legislative journey, talking about it with lawmakers at Advocacy Day, submitting testimony, and making calls to push for its passage.
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Pennsylvania
In September, 14 students from across Pennsylvania attended an event focused on firearm suicide prevention awareness. Everytown Office of the President intern-turned-volunteer George Lobis moderated a panel discussion during the event and did an incredible job leading an important conversation. Additionally, Governor Josh Shapiro signed the state budget that included $62.15 million in funding for community violence intervention and prevention programs—a 10 percent increase over last year.
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Rhode Island
Students played a key role in winning a 12-year fight to pass a statewide assault weapons ban! Thanks in part to their efforts, Rhode Island became the 10th state in the country to ban assault weapons. Huge shoutout to the Students Demand Action group at Brown University, which provided written testimonies and spoke at committee hearings (during finals week). Students made time to go to the Capitol repeatedly to pressure their lawmakers to vote for the bill, and attended the bill signing with Governor Daniel McKee.
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Tennessee
Tennessee was one of five states in which students pushed for bans on dangerous machine gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), and won!
In March, Students Demand Action volunteers hosted a joint Advocacy Day with Moms Demand Action volunteers, where they spent the day deepening their skills and knowledge on gun violence prevention. And two of our Tennessee high school leaders have consistently hosted meetings and closed out events. They are excellent examples of what it looks like to see our work in action in schools and communities across the country!
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Texas
Students Demand Action volunteers in Texas consistently showed up to advocate against the dangerous federal concealed carry mandate, dropping off materials at the offices of Representatives Cuellar and Doggett. The University of Texas-Austin also held a gun violence prevention panel with researchers and lawmakers. Hayden Presley, the UT Austin lead, also spoke at a press conference, urging lawmakers to push back against the gun lobby’s guns-everywhere agenda.
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Vermont
In Vermont, students spearheaded and advocated for a change in Burlington to prohibit guns in bars after a tragic shooting occurred outside of a popular bar. Students Demand Action leaders engaged in community outreach by handing out coasters to local bars to spread awareness on the dangers of guns in bars.
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Virginia
Students Demand Action volunteers played a pivotal role in convincing Virginia lawmakers to pass more than 20 gun safety measures, sending them to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk. While he unfortunately vetoed most of that legislation, students recognized the importance of putting Gun Sense Candidates in office and put their all into the 2025 elections. Thanks to many phone calls, door knocks, and voter contacts from students, Gun Sense Candidates up and down the ballot won their elections—including Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger!
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Washington
Washington passed a law requiring gun purchasers to get a permit and undergo live-fire safety training before buying a gun. Students attended Advocacy Day to introduce this bill to lawmakers and continued to show up at legislative hearings to emphasize their support for the bill.
“The influence young people had in advancing gun safety policies is undeniable. We showed up, made our demands loud and clear, and refused to take no for an answer. Gen Z will be here until we can live without the fear of being shot.”
—Carter, Regis Jesuit High School Students Demand Action leader
In-Person Events
“Time to Make It Make Sense” Pop-Up Event in Honor of Neal McDonald
In June, Justin Murray, a Students Demand Action Youth Black Engagement Liaison, hosted a pop-up event in honor of Cornelius “Neal” McDonald. In partnership with Paper Planes, Students Demand Action, and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, Justin launched a limited edition “Time to Make It Make Sense” tee at an event in New York City, with Students Demand Action staff and volunteers in attendance.
Summer Organizing Institute
Later in the summer, 80 high school students and 20 college students traveled to the University of Minnesota to attend Students Demand Action’s Summer Organizing Institute. At the institute, students learned about the skills and tools they can use to organize in their schools and communities.
Student Survivor Fellowship Summit
In October, 13 student leaders gathered in D.C. for a Student Survivor Fellowship Summit. It was a powerful weekend for the college students, all of whom had personally experienced gun violence, to make connections and deepen their advocacy skills. The weekend included social media advocacy training and a “Story of Self, Us, and Now” storytelling session to give students the support and guidance in how to share their stories to affect change.
Young Changemakers Summit
In November, 40 student leaders from across the country came together for our Young Changemakers Summit. At the summit, students learned how gun violence intersects with the social, cultural, and economic challenges young Black Americans navigate every day. It was a space bursting with energy, creativity, and community.
Honoring with Action
Tragically, just like every year, we saw the grief and devastation gun violence causes in our communities. But we also saw students like you stepping up, meeting each moment with determination, and calling for action.
In April, following a shooting at Florida State University, Students Demand Action leaders organized a vigil where more than 100 people gathered to listen to student speakers, center survivors’ voices, and share in moments of reflection. Days later, more than 200 students, survivors, and community members gathered for a powerful march to the State Capitol. They demanded that lawmakers take action to end gun violence in their state, drawing the attention of reporters and legislators. The joint leadership of Florida A&M University and FSU Students Demand Action groups, paired with support from partners across the state, showcased a united, youth-led movement that is unwilling to let their voices be dismissed.
And in September, following the shootings at Annunciation Church School (MN) and Evergreen High School (CO), students at more than 250 schools across the country walked out to demand that lawmakers take action.
Students Demand Action started 2025 with one active group (with one student leader) in Utah. Following the September assassination of Charlie Kirk, students have turned their fear into action. Ivy, a University of Utah student, restarted the Students Demand Action group at the University of Utah this fall. In October, Ivy joined Jaden Christensen, the current Utah Moms Demand Action chapter leader and a former Students Demand Action leader, for a fireside chat with Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action.
2025 Election Efforts
Led by powerful students and young people like you, we turned a national spotlight on an off-year election. And together, we elected (and defended) our gun sense majorities in state legislatures, the courts, and governors’ mansions.
Read More: How Young People Helped Power the 2025 Off-Year Election Wins
Now, we’re turning our focus to the 2026 midterm elections, and we’re ready to keep the winning energy going.
Looking Ahead
From elections to state legislative campaigns to local school board advocacy and everything in between, students played an integral role in moving the gun safety movement forward. Nothing we accomplished this year would have been possible without the support and innovation of students like you who took action.
Now, we’re looking ahead to the start of many new state legislative sessions, national midterm elections, and another year of energy and impact from our Students Demand Action volunteers.
Thank you for everything. We’re grateful for you.
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