John, July 4 was founded to celebrate our independence as a country. Yet, one year ago, we were reminded that we are far from being free from our nation’s gun violence epidemic.
On July 4, 2022, a young man used an assault weapon and high-capacity magazine to fire 70 rounds into a crowd of innocent parade-goers in Highland Park, IL. He killed seven people and injured nearly 50 others, including children, in a matter of minutes.
In response, Brady put our full support behind the city of Highland Park. It hasn’t been easy by any means, but we’ve made lasting progress in helping prevent another attack from happening again.
Just weeks after the shooting, Brady Legal filed a lawsuit against Smith & Wesson, the maker of the assault weapon used in the attack, on behalf of Highland Park victims and their families. Our lawsuit alleges that Smith & Wessons’ marketing campaign for the M&P15 assault rifle specifically targets youth who are enamored with military combat. Our lawsuit aims to hold Smith & Wesson accountable for their marketing practices.
In communities across Illinois, Brady’s grassroots team organized to build broad support for a state-wide ban on assault weapons. Alongside dedicated grassroots supporters like you, we spent months calling, emailing, and rallying lawmakers to ban these weapons of war, and it paid off. Months ago, Brady Illinois leaders and chapter members joined Illinois Gov. Pritzker as he signed an assault weapons ban into law, marking a victory for all of Illinois.
And now, as we approach the one-year anniversary, Brady is proud to announce a new campaign with Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering “We Are Highland Park.” Next week, we’ll join Mayor Rotering for a commemorative vigil and to demand Congress pass a federal ban on assault weapons ban. Our message is simple — We Are All Highland Park: We are all at risk of being shot, whether we are marching in a parade, in school, shopping at the grocery store, or simply walking down the street.
As you can see, John, Brady works tirelessly across Congress, the courts, and our communities to free our nation of gun violence and make it a safer place for all. Our life-saving efforts are working, but as you know, we cannot do this work alone — and that’s why we’re reaching out to you today. Will you consider supporting Brady with a gift right now? Big or small, your support fuels our mission to prevent gun violence and save lives.
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In solidarity,
Team Brady |
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Brady Legal Update: The Fight for Victims of Domestic Violence |
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will take up the case of US v Rahimi next term. This case stems from 2020 when a Texas man was involved in five separate shootings and was convicted for possessing firearms while under a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited him from doing so. In the aftermath, he filed a lawsuit challenging the very law that led to his conviction — and he won.
The Fifth Circuit court ruled that the law was unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. This decision thereby allowed individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders who live in states covered by the 5th Circuit (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) to keep their guns. Brady Legal, along with a coalition of gun violence prevention and domestic violence groups, filed a brief calling on the Supreme Court to pursue this case and overturn the reckless decision from the Fifth Circuit. The stakes for this case couldn’t be higher. If the Supreme Court does not rule in our favor, it will be easier for domestic abusers to maintain access to firearms and will set a dangerous precedent for the entire nation. Already, firearms are the most common weapons used in domestic violence homicides. Every 16 hours in America, a woman is killed with a firearm by an intimate partner.
We believe that prohibiting domestic violence abusers from accessing firearms is common sense, life-saving, and constitutional — and we’re proud to fight for this alongside our coalition partners. Please join us in learning more about US vs Rahimi and our life-saving efforts in the courts.
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Episode 227: Shifting Perceptions of Guns in Media With Actor Adam Brody
How can storytellers in popular media play a role in preventing gun violence? As we continue our Show Your Safety series, Actor Adam Brody joins us to share his insights on Hollywood's influence on gun culture and the power of storytelling to change hearts and minds. As an actor, Adam recognizes the impact stories have on shaping people's perceptions and the importance of having sensitive, in-depth conversations about gun violence, similar to the conversations we're having about gender and minority representation.
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Episode 228 — The Power of Theater in Fighting Gun Violence: A Conversation With Michael Cotey
How can theater become a powerful tool for activism, particularly in the fight against gun violence? Join us as we discuss this topic with our special guest, Michael Cotey, a theater director and the artistic rirector of ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence. Inspired by young people, we explore Michael's journey of developing the project and how theater can create space for marginalized groups that often don’t have a place in mainstream American theater.
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