“What wouldn’t you do to stop a loved one from taking their own life or another’s? We’re showing people that they can take action and there are tools to help them stop a momentary crisis from becoming a permanent tragedy.”
— Brady President Kris Brown
BIG NEWS, friend!
Brady and our partners at the Ad Council and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) just launched a new campaign, “Pause to Heal,” to raise awareness about Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs), more commonly known as extreme risk laws.
Each year in America, over 40,000 people are killed by gun violence. The bulk of these deaths are those we rarely talk about: firearm suicide. In fact, 67 people die by firearm suicide every day. More than half of annual gun deaths are gun suicides, and firearms are by far the most lethal method of suicide.
We created “Pause to Heal” to prevent firearm suicide and stop shootings before they happen by educating residents about Illinois’ FRO law, which allows family and household members to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from a person who poses a threat to themselves or those around them.
By all means, FROs in Illinois have the power to reduce violence and save lives. But that’s only if the public knows what they are and how to use them. Research tells us that only 10% of Illinois residents are familiar with FROs. Our campaign will bolster awareness of these life-saving tools, featuring a new website and advertisements in communities across Illinois, like billboards, bus shelters, and more — so be on the lookout!
We know our efforts will save lives. This campaign builds on the success of Brady’s End Family Fire program, which is also dedicated to educating Americans about safe firearm storage as a means to reduce gun deaths and injuries. According to data, gun owners and people in gun-owning households who are aware of the End Family Fire campaign are significantly more likely to make changes to store their guns more safely than those not aware of the campaign.
We couldn’t be more proud to launch “Pause to Heal” with the Ad Council and IDPH. Together, we can help stop a momentary crisis from becoming a permanent tragedy and save lives. Please join us in learning more about “Pause to Heal” and consider sharing it with your networks. |
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Honoring Sarah Brady’s Legacy |
This week marks nine years since the death of Sarah Brady. A relentless advocate, Sarah was more than just one-half of Brady’s namesake. Alongside her husband, Jim Brady, she was a driving force in the life-saving work that we continue today.
After Jim was shot and nearly killed during an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, Sarah dedicated her life to preventing the pain and trauma her family had endured. She was keenly aware our nation's gun violence epidemic was the product of weak gun laws and the influence of a corrupt gun lobby.
She fought tooth and nail for common-sense gun violence prevention legislation, and after seven votes over six years and three presidencies, Sarah and Jim declared victory when President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill into law — establishing our nation’s first background check system for gun sales. Now, 30 years later, the Brady Background Check System has blocked nearly 4.9 million unlawful gun sales and transfers.
While we will forever miss Sarah Brady’s powerful advocacy, we vow to uphold her memory and legacy by fighting to free America from gun violence — and that must include expanding and strengthening Brady Background Checks. Since the rise of the internet and thriving online gun marketplaces, 1 in 5 guns are sold without a background check. So as we mark nine years since Sarah’s death, please urge Congress to close these loopholes by supporting legislation to expand Brady Background Checks!
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You're Invited — “Columbine 2024: 25 Years of Trauma” in Washington, D.C. |
You’re invited to join Brady for the screening of Jeff Vespa’s newest documentary, “Columbine 2024: 25 Years of Trauma,” on April 16, at the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Washington, D.C.
April 20 marks the 25th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School that killed 12 students and one teacher and injured dozens more. Jeff’s documentary follows a Columbine teacher, Kiki Leyba, and his wife, Kallie Leyba, as they grapple with loss and trauma in the aftermath of the shooting. The documentary serves as a reminder of the impact of mass violence on individuals and communities while offering hope for healing and reconciliation.
After the screening, Jeff, who is also a Brady Regional Leadership Council member, Kiki, and Tom Mauser, the father of Daniel, a victim of the Columbine shooting, will discuss the documentary, the impact of Columbine, and gun violence in America. Arnitta Holliman of CAP will moderate the conversation and Stephan Abrams, a youth leader of Brady’s Team ENOUGH, will give closing remarks.
Please RSVP now for this powerful screening and conversation on Tuesday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. ET. |
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