Matthew McConaughey has hired a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm to assist in his push for tighter gun laws after a mass shooting in his hometown of Uvalde, Texas, last month that killed 19 children and two teachers.
A team of lobbyists from Avisa Partners will represent the actor in Washington, pushing for issues related to “responsible gun ownership,” a rare move for a member of Hollywood, according to Politico.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY GIVES IMPASSIONED SPEECH AT WHITE HOUR AFTER UVALDE SHOOTING
The registration for the partnership was filed Wednesday, linking the lobby group to Barefoot Money Inc., a holding company registered to McConaughey.
The Hollywood star is not the first to use influence to advocate for political issues, though he has gone to great lengths in recent weeks following the shooting to push for gun legislation as Congress weighs a gun reform bill. Actress Angelina Jolie met with lawmakers last year, pushing for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and George and Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer by trade, have advocated a number of issues related to human rights over the years.
McConaughey visited the White House earlier this month, urging bipartisan cooperation on gun reform policies, specifically calling to raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 to 21, pass red flag laws, and implement background checks during an impassioned speech at a White House press briefing.
“We want secure and safe schools, and we want gun laws that won’t make it so easy for the bad guys to get these damn guns,” he said. “Responsible gun owners are fed up with the Second Amendment being abused and hijacked.”
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McConaughey emphasized the term “gun responsibility” in an op-ed following the shooting, making clear he is a supporter of the Second Amendment though believes in certain policies to reduce gun violence.
