About

At Texas Gun Sense, we are unwavering in our commitment to end gun violence. We advance safer gun laws at the Legislature. We leave no stone unturned as we work to make our communities safer. We advocate for a better and safer Texas, while protecting the rights of responsible gun owners.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

Our Mission

Our mission is to prevent gun violence and other gun tragedies in Texas through education, partnerships, and policy change. We achieve this mission through a multi-faceted approach centering around education, collaboration and advocacy.

We educate the public, lawmakers, and the media about solutions to prevent gun deaths and injuries.

We collaborate with partners to advance gun safety initiatives at the state, local, and community level.

We advocate for common sense, evidence-based policies that reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners.

OUR VISION

We envision a future in which all communities are safe from gun violence.

Over the years, the Texas Gun Sense mission has expanded to include both legislative advocacy and community-based gun safety initiatives. This includes a broad range of activities that produce meaningful impact in our communities and achieve progress within and outside of the political landscape.

OUR VALUES

Every gun death is one too many, leaving behind shattered families and generations of trauma that spreads throughout communities. The following values guide our actions and efforts to honor victims and survivors and prevent future tragedies:

Evidence

We put evidence above ideology, seeking nonpartisan solutions that are backed by data, critical thinking, and public consensus.

Community

We bring together leaders and citizens from all backgrounds to create an engaged ecosystem led by a shared vision of a safer future for Texas communities.

Respect

We believe we must listen to one another and show respect for different viewpoints while continuing to find common ground toward sensible, proven solutions.

Justice

We recognize that gun violence disproportionately impacts historically marginalized communities and that it is critical that we include the voices of those who are most impacted in the work we do.

Collaboration

We work with partners with a vested interest in preventing gun deaths, including Veterans, medical professionals, domestic violence advocates, mental health experts, law enforcement, educators, and racial justice advocates.

Creativity

We know that to successfully advance meaningful change, we need to be creative and nimble in our approach. We are always exploring innovative strategies to prevent gun violence across our communities.

Our Story

Texas Gun Sense began in 2007 as Students for Gun-Free Schools in Texas, a non-profit organization founded by survivors of the Virginia Tech shooting, as well as family and friends of victims. Our members included students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators, and others who care about safe campuses.

In 2013, with added support and expanded membership, we became Texas Gun Sense, a nonprofit focused more broadly on public safety. In 2015, we launched the Texas Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, an intersectional group focused on impact across the state. Now, our organization also co-leads the Texas Invest In Us Coalition, an initiative to secure investments for community violence intervention with Community Justice Action Fund.

OUR TEAM

Nicole Golden

Executive Director

Preventing gun violence in all its forms is Nicole’s lifelong passion. After serving in an interim capacity, she officially took the reins as the new Executive Director of Texas Gun Sense in April of 2022, right before the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Nicole deftly managed an emotionally charged crisis-response protocol, pivoting the organization to focus on how TGS could be of immediate service to a community in need.

Nicole’s education as a social worker and 10 years of advocacy experience prepared her for this challenge. She is deeply devoted to moving the needle in Texas through coalition-building, legislative and grassroots advocacy, education, and community-based gun safety initiatives.

Ethan Sullivan

Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator

Ethan Sullivan recently earned his Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at The University of Texas at Austin and is passionate about reducing gun violence and building safer communities. He has worked on the official side of politics in the U.S. Senate for Senator Michael Bennet, on political campaigns at the state, local and city levels. Advocacy has always been his driving passion, and he is excited to bring that background to Texas Gun Sense—working across the state to advance practical, evidence-based solutions that save lives.

Laura Minnigerode

Development Manager

Laura is an experienced researcher, writer, curriculum designer, and educator. She has successfully managed the full lifecycle of grants, including funding received from foundations, corporations and local, state, and federal governments. She draws on a wealth of experience to help build and manage a robust pipeline of grant funding opportunities to round out a diverse and healthy stream of revenue for Texas Gun Sense.

Garrett Chase

Communications Manager

Garrett (he/him) leverages his extensive background in advocacy, communications, and nonprofit leadership to advance the mission of preventing gun violence across Texas. Before joining TGS, Garrett honed his experience in LGBTQIA2+ advocacy, strategic communications, and development work for issues ranging from reproductive rights to climate action to gun violence prevention. With an emphasis on social justice, strategic partnerships, and community engagement, Garrett brings a passion for policy advocacy to the TGS team.

Melissa Lamm

Administrative Manager

Melissa joined Texas Gun Sense in 2017 and facilitates day-to-day operations management and administrative support for the team. Prior to joining TGS, she worked for over two decades as an account executive in Washington, D.C. for a Fortune 500 company, growing sales and building long-term relationships with key clients. After moving with her family to Austin, TX, she took a 10-year career hiatus during her children’s elementary and middle school years to volunteer.

Ava Black

Policy Intern – Spring 2025

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Ava is a second-year student at the University of Texas at Austin. She is majoring in International Relations and Global Studies with a minor in Spanish.

Always an advocate for a safer Texas, Ava cares deeply about the political process and the importance of standing up for what’s right.

When she is not in classes, she thoroughly enjoys reading and exploring Austin with friends.

Audrey Park

Communications Intern – Spring 2025

Audrey is an anthropology and Asian studies major at UT Austin. Over the years, she has worked in social media for several businesses and non-profits. She is an active writer and works to strengthen the creative community in Austin through student organizations.

Board of Directors

David Dunn BOARD CHAIR

Kelsey Erickson Streufert VICE CHAIR

Jaime Thompson SECRETARY

Bonnie Cook, MAS TREASURER

Jon Brandt

Travis Krogman

Dana Rundlof

Mary Stone

Louis Wichers

Advisory Board

Dr. Juno Woods CO-FOUNDER

Frances Schenkkan CO-FOUNDER

Dr. Lauren Gambill

Dr. Mary-Lynn Rice-Lively

Nina Zilkha

OUR WORK AT THE CAPITOL

We take advantage of every opportunity, small or large, to move the needle towards more protection from gun violence in Texas. We respect responsible gun owners while advocating for solutions that protect our communities, our families, and those most at risk of gun deaths and gun injuries. We make headway at the legislature through three primary activities:

OUR CURRENT POLICY PRIORITIES

Raising the age for the legal purchase of semi-automatic rifles.
Adopting extreme risk protection orders.
Requiring background checks at every gun sale.
Providing a clear pathway for domestic abusers to relinquish firearms .
Investing in community violence intervention and safe gun storage education.
Preventing firearm suicide.
Opposing the expansion of guns in schools

OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY

We know that action at the legislature is not enough to change the texture of violence in Texas. This is why we actively work to develop community-based gun safety initiatives and education. Some of our community priorities include:

Firearm suicide prevention

Safe gun storage education

Voluntary gun storage access
expansion

Gun safety engagement for gun dealers

Co-leading the Texas Invest In Us Coalition

The Texas Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence is an alliance of organizations and experts working in gun violence prevention (GVP) and as intersectional advocates for mental health, domestic abuse, and other issues which touch our community. Our mission is to amplify the efforts of community advocates by serving as a collective, powerful voice for policy and systems change to prevent & reduce gun violence in Texas. We do this through education, training and mobilization.