Dear John,

This is a historic week of milestones within the movement to prevent gun violence .

Yesterday marked 26-years since the enactment of the Brady Bill — the landmark legislation that established our nation’s first background check system. The Brady Bill came to be when Jim Brady, who served as President Reagan’s press secretary, was shot in the head during the attempted assassination of President Reagan. But a bullet couldn’t stop Jim or his wife Sarah. They fought tirelessly for — and won — the Brady Bill. Since enacted into law, more than 3.5 million firearm sales to prohibited purchasers have been blocked, helping save countless lives.

But as times change, new challenges evolve. Today, one in every five guns are sold without a background check on online gun marketplaces like Armslist.com. Also, the Charleston loophole allows guns to be sold after three days — even if a background check hasn’t been completed! Our gun laws need to be updated to reflect today’s world .

Building upon Jim and Sarah’s legacy, the House passed H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112 one year ago this week. The bills would expand background checks to all gun sales and close the Charleston loophole. Yet, under the “leadership” of Sen. McConnell, both bills have sat on his desk for an entire year. That’s nearly 40,000 people killed due to gun violence .

Sen. McConnell’s inaction is lethal . We’re calling on him to bring both bills to a vote during this historic week of milestones [[link removed]] . Will you join us? Demand Sen. McConnell bring H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112 to a vote today [[link removed]] !

ACT NOW [[link removed]]

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Jim (L) and Sarah (Center) Brady with President Bill Clinton during the signing of the Brady Bill on November 30, 1993. The landmark legislation went into effect on February 27, 1994.

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“This was a shot to the heart of our city and a tragic example of preventable violence.”

— Brady Milwaukee Program Manager Anneliese Dickman following the mass shooting at Molson Coors Headquarters

Our hearts are with the families and the people of Milwaukee following the mass shooting at Molson Coors Headquarters. A former employee shot and killed five people, including Jesus Valle Jr., 33, Gennady Levshez, 51, Trevor Wetselaar, 33, Dana Walk, 57, and Dale Hudson, 50.

While some details about the shooting remain unclear, we know this: workplace homicides have steadily increased since 2016, and the gun industry continues to limit the ability of employers to restrict guns at work. We cannot be complacent when 100 people die of gun violence every day in the United States, including the five employees in Milwaukee who will never come home from work again. They deserve better. Our nation deserves better.

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a sterling record on preventing gun violence. We are proud to endorse Speaker Pelosi for re-election as she continues the fight for common-sense gun reform. Watch our video now [[link removed]] !

[[link removed]]Candidates FINALLY Had a Full-Out Debate on Solutions to Gun Violence

Last week, we asked you to join Brady in demanding debate moderators ask meaningful questions about gun violence. This week, CBS moderators did not disappoint. Thanks to pointed questions, candidates covered key gun violence prevention policies, including:

✔️Removing the harmful legal immunity [[link removed]] bestowed upon the gun [[link removed]] industry

✔️Calling for an end to the filibuster [[link removed]] as a way to block gun safety legislation

✔️Closing the deadly Charleston loophole [[link removed]] in background checks

Addressing the Charleston loophole was top of mind for South Carolinians. The debate took place within a block of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, where in 2015 a gunman shot and killed nine parishioners and injured another three. He was able to purchase his weapon due to the Charleston loophole.

www.bradyunited.org/legislation/the-enhanced-background-checks-act-of-2019-hr-1112-charleston-loophole [www.bradyunited.org/legislation/the-enhanced-background-checks-act-of-2019-hr-1112-charleston-loophole]

We are energized that candidates substantively discussed solutions to our country’s epidemic of gun violence. Years ago, the issue was virtually never raised at debates, but those days are over. We are making sure the next President meaningfully addresses the full scope of gun violence, including every day gun violence in Black and Brown communities and using executive action to combat gun violence. As we prepare for the upcoming election, read more about our take on the debate [[link removed]] .

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It’s Been Four Years Since the Excel Industry Shooting

Four years ago this week, a gunman shot and killed three people and injured more than 10 others at Excel Industries in Hesston, Kansas. Joshua Higbee, a welder at Excel, was one of the many murdered that day. Two years later, Brady Legal and our Legal Alliance took action against A Pawn Shop — the seller of the guns used by the shooter, on behalf of Joshua’s family. We alleged that A Pawn Shop negligently let the gunman’s ex-girlfriend obtain the guns for him through a straw purchase.

Brady Legal battled in the courts for months, questioning the gun dealer and demanding justice on behalf of Joshua’s family. Then it became official: Brady Legal and our Legal Alliance announced a victory on behalf of the Higbee family and other cases pending against A Pawn Shop with a global $2 million settlement! As a result of our lawsuit, A Pawn Shop stopped selling firearms and closed its doors for good. Subscribe to the Brady Legal Alliance newsletter to learn more about our work [[link removed]] !

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[[link removed]] Team ENOUGH Lobbying Collectives Meet with Lawmakers from Coast to Coast

This week, the Team ENOUGH Tallahassee Lobbying Collective kicked off their first lobbying day by meeting lawmakers to discuss gun safety legislation. Students successfully gained a co-sponsor from Rep. Fentrice Driskell on SB 652, and discussed the importance of SB 7028 with Rep. Carlos Smith !

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(L-R) Eve Levenson, Chris Zoeller, Rep. Fentrice Driskell, Sabrina Feldman, Julia Cordover, Robert Schentrup, Carolina Garcia-Umani, Rep. Carlos Smith, Alyssa Ackbar, and Ricky Pope.

In Washington, D.C., the Team ENOUGH Lobbying Collective met with lawmakers to expand background checks to all gun sales. Their push for expanded background checks were widely accepted among lawmakers — but to no surprise — the hands of Congress are tied because of Sen. McConnell. But don’t worry, this was just the first of many times Team ENOUGH will be on Capitol Hill lobbying lawmakers for change. As they prepare for the next lobby day, watch their combined video with March for Our Lives D.C [[link removed]] .

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Brady Endorses Yes for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)!

Too often, public schools in urban areas aren’t provided with the same educational resources as those in suburban areas. In return, students can face disadvantages that may lead to higher rates of violence and crime in impacted communities. That’s why part of our work in Milwaukee — where we’re doing grassroots work to fight the city’s high rates of gun violence — includes endorsing the Vote Yes for MPS Campaign. This referendum will fund mental health services, arts education, and other programs that are proven to prevent conflict and violence.

We are proud to be the first gun violence prevention organization to endorse the Yes for MPS Campaign. Investing in educational resources to ensure all students have the same opportunities is an essential first step to reducing violence in our communities. Do you live in the Milwaukee area? Take the Yes for MPS pledge and learn more about their work [[link removed]] !

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This week on Red, Blue, and Brady [[link removed]] —

🎧 On the Front Lines [[link removed]]
In our latest episode on racial justice, hosts JJ and Kelly are joined by Clayton Rosenberg of the Alliance of Concerned Men and Women [[link removed]] — a non-profit that focuses on saving lives of at-risk youth and adults in Washington, D.C. We explore how violence is intertwined and complicated by racism, gentrification, and policing, as well as the Alliance’s work as violence interrupters. Listen now [[link removed]] .

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Clayton Rosenberg (center) of the Alliance of Concerned Men and Women. Subscribe now by searching your favorite podcast app for “Red, Blue, and Brady.” [[link removed]]

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I’m Not Giving Up on An Assault Weapons Ban in Virginia [[link removed]] , Washington Post

Small Southern California Town Labels Itself a ‘2nd Amendment Sanctuary [[link removed]] ,’ KTXL

A Chat About Gun Vocabulary with U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Ky Hunter [[link removed]] , WTTG

What Do Pro-Gun Resolutions Sweeping Across N.J. Actually Do? Not Much [[link removed]] , New Jersey Star

[[link removed]] New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s message to local sheriffs [[link removed]] was loud and clear after passing an extreme risk law [[link removed]] : enforce gun laws or resign! Her response came largely in part to so-called “Second Amendment Sanctuaries,” where local governments are passing resolutions saying they will not enforce gun safety laws passed by the state legislature.

Gov. Grisham’s condemnation of so-called “Second Amendment Sanctuaries” was built on a steady drum beat of advocacy from local groups like New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence [[link removed]] , led by Co-President Miranda Viscoli . The group has consistently advocated for lifesaving gun safety laws, like the one passed by Gov. Grisham, and has made clear that sheriffs have a duty to protect and serve the public by enforcing gun safety laws.

Send a Tweet thanking Gov. Grisham and New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence for their leadership on this issue! [[link removed]]

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"We are heartened by the progress we have made in just one year, including the passage of these bills. But, in the months ahead, we will not forget that we still have the opportunity to ban weapons of war in our commonwealth next year. We’ll ensure that our elected officials do not forget, either."

— Brady President Kris Brown [[link removed]] in the Washington Post


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Our work is made possible by supporters like you.

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Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
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