Bearing Arms Columnist Challenges Giffords Over Gun Lobby Corruption Message

In a Bearing Arms column, Cam Edwards takes issue with the gun control group Giffords for making corruption claims against House Republicans part of its midterm message. He points to reporting that gun control groups are far outspending their opponents.

Key points

• The spending figure: Edwards cites The Trace, which he describes as funded by Everytown, as reporting that gun control organizations spent more than 13 times what gun rights groups did in the 2026 election cycle.
• Giffords message: Executive director Emma Brown told The Trace the group is pairing a "weak-on-public-safety message" with a corruption message aimed at incumbent House Republicans, who she said have "sold out" to the gun lobby and industry.
• Edwards' question: He asks whether Democrats who receive large sums from Everytown or Giffords should be judged by the same standard, and faults Trace reporter Chip Brownlee for not putting that question to Brown.
• Crime data cited: Edwards writes that the U.S. homicide rate is on pace for an all-time low this year and violent crime is at its lowest level since the 1960s.

Quick take

Edwards says he does not believe Giffords, Everytown or the NRA is buying votes, and argues that advocacy groups on every issue spend money to elect like-minded candidates. In his view, lawmakers on both sides may simply believe in the positions they vote for, and Giffords should apply its own spending test to the candidates it funds.

Read the full story at Bearing Arms.