The On Par Project
TOPP offers model legislation to lawfully shift the costs of firearm injury from the public to gun industry and advocates for its adoption in every state.
The Problem
- Firearms manufacturers and distributors have no financial liability to pay one cent for the 85,000 individuals wounded by guns each year. This means that annually:
- U.S. taxpayers pay $12.6 billion dollars to cover the direct costs of suicide, homicide, and unintentional injury by shooting.
- Each patient hospitalized by gunfire generates on average $81,291 of medical expenses, most of which is not covered by private insurance.
- The unpaid portion of each bill drives up the cost of health insurance premiums along withthe cost of services provided by hospitals and physicians services that everyone pays.
- A shooting death results in the unplanned expense of a funeral and burial, costing families on average, between $6,000 and $12,000.
- U.S. employers absorb $534,910,000 in direct costs for recruiting, training, and replacing employees, and for lost time from work because of gun injury.
The Solution
The On Par Project proposes to shift all direct costs of shooting from the injured, families, employers and taxpayers to the for-profit firearms industry.
Our proposal aims to bring the firearms industry on par with all other U.S. corporations held to account for the harms and injuries caused by their products and services.
With the help of legislators, physicians, attorneys, religious leaders, advocacy groups, and private citizens, including gun owners, On Par is drafting novel non-partisan legislation to establish an independent agency to create a no-fault victim compensation fund for the victims of firearm injury. This agency would require gun manufacturers and distributors to pay into a no-fault fund to cover the direct costs of shooting, ensuring that the wounded incur no out-of-pocket costs for their medical treatment, mental health care, and prescriptions. Similar to workers compensation the the fund would replace lost wages of the injured. In addition, it would reimburse families for expenses incurred on behalf of the injured and compensate employers for their costs.
What will it solve?
- Successful implementation of the On Par legislation would do the following:
- Save taxpayers $12.2 billion dollars every year.
- Ensure that the injured and their families receive comprehensive medical and mental health services after a shooting without additional conditions required by existing victim compensation funds.
- Protect victims and families from financial strain and medical debt.
- Reimburse employers for their out-of-pocket losses.
- Align the firearm industry with On Par and our allies for sensible reform in gun laws and effective gun violence prevention.
On Par & Firearms
The On Part Project agrees with the Second Amendment and recognizes the rights of citizens to own firearms. We agree that corporations have the right to manufacture and sell firearms at a profit. Our efforts are aimed solely at mandating accountability across the industry. Ending the government entitlement to the firearm industry will relieve taxpayers, the injured, their families, and employers of an unfair burden, the cost of which escalates each year.
The On Par Project has support from gun-owners and non-owners alike across the political spectrum.