Friend, We’ve seen multiple life-saving bills introduced in Congress this year that would reduce gun violence and save lives. To little surprise, many lawmakers, including those backed by the gun lobby, have refused to act. But we at Brady, the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization, have proven that we can create real change even if Congress is gridlocked — and that includes in our nation’s courts. We have a long, successful history of taking on the gun industry in the court and winning. That’s why today, we’re highlighting a landmark legal case won by Brady’s legal team that created important precedent and secured a $2.2 million settlement for a family impacted by an irresponsible gun dealer.
In 2012, a Missouri gun dealer, Odessa Gun & Pawn, sold a handgun to a woman who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and depression. Fearing she had suicidal thoughts, her family took the gun away. In the weeks that followed, Janet Delana, the woman's mother, called the dealer, explaining her daughter's illness, and begged them not to sell another gun to her daughter. But just two days after Janet’s pleading call, her daughter returned to Odessa Gun & Pawn, and they sold her a semiautomatic pistol. She immediately returned to her family’s home, and an hour later, she shot and killed her father, Tex C. Delana. Yesterday marked 13 years since this devastating day.
In turn, Brady Legal and our partners filed suit against Odessa Gun & Pawn on behalf of Janet Delana and the rest of Tex’s family. We argued that gun dealers have a responsibility to use great care in selling guns to keep them out of the hands of someone who is a danger to themselves or others. A trial court initially dismissed the case due to a federal law that blocks gun violence survivors from having their day in court. But we appealed, argued the case in the Missouri Supreme Court, and won.
As you can see, friend, Brady has an impact in the courts that truly moves the needle forward on gun violence prevention — and we’re not slowing down. Since this decision, numerous gun violence victims have been able to pursue litigation against irresponsible members of the gun industry. Today, we continue our fight for victims and survivors in courts nationwide. But we can’t do this work alone. Will you please consider supporting Brady with a gift today?
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In solidarity, Team Brady |
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Tell the U.S. Senate: Don’t Make it Easier to Access DEADLY Weapons |
Yesterday, the provision in President Trump’s tax bill that would deregulate firearm silencers and other dangerous weapons was deemed to violate Senate rules. The ruling said the provision was irrelevant to the budget which means it must come out or can stay in the bill only if it passes a 60-vote threshold. While this decision is a victory for common sense, we cannot let up. We must continue to call and email our lawmakers in Congress to ensure this provision is gone for good and that Congress rejects any attempt to use this tax bill to weaken our gun laws. Umbrella guns, knife guns, and pen guns. These are just a few of the deadly firearms that will be deregulated, along with gun silencers, if this disastrous bill becomes law. No everyday citizen needs access to these deadly firearms and devices. We know their impact. Gun silencers, specifically, have had a devastating impact on our communities. Six years ago, a shooter used a silencer to kill 12 people at his Virginia workplace before police intervened. Two years ago, the ATF recovered and traced over 400 silencers from violent crime scenes.
Enough is enough. We have to protect our communities from Trump’s “guns everywhere” agenda! Please take action now. |
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NEW DATA: The Suppliers of America’s Gun Violence Crisis |
Every gun used to injure or kill starts somewhere, and the overwhelming majority begin in the legal marketplace. Brady’s Combating Crime Guns program uncovers and analyzes data that helps us better understand how guns are diverted from the legal market to the illegal market, and ultimately used in crime.
A critical component of ending gun violence begins with identifying the source of firearms used in crime: problematic gun dealers. And as the Trump administration takes steps to make this more difficult by cutting ATF staff, resources, and regulations, we at Brady are fighting back.
This week, Brady revealed new information that identifies gun dealers included in the ATF’s 2024 Demand Letter 2 (DL2) program — a program that identifies many dealers that sell large numbers of guns recovered from crimes soon after purchase.
To ensure the American public is informed of the role of rogue gun dealers in fueling gun violence, we updated our Gun Store Transparency Project to indicate which gun dealers are part of this DL2 program — making it easy to identify gun dealers that are known to have both been cited for violating the law and linked to guns used in crimes.
We also released an updated analysis of the firearm dealers in the DL2 program, which found, among many other things, that states with weak gun laws have more of these dealers.
As the Trump administration continues to slash critical staff at the ATF and reduce gun dealer oversight, information like this is more important than ever. We call on policymakers, journalists, and everyday Americans to visit our Gun Store Transparency project, enter your zip code, and equip yourself with the facts so that we can end our nation’s gun violence epidemic.
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Brady Supports the Reintroduction of the Break the Cycle of Violence Act |
This week, Brady proudly supported Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Steven Horsford as they reintroduced the Break the Cycle of Violence Act — landmark legislation that would provide the largest proposed federal investment in community-led strategies to end gun violence.
If signed into law, the bill would provide $5 billion for evidence-based community violence intervention (CVI) programs and $1.5 billion for youth workforce development programs over eight years. This funding is especially critical for urban communities, where 80% of gun homicides occur, and young people of color, particularly Black and Hispanic youth, face disproportionately high rates of gun violence and the long-term economic fallout it brings.
Following the Trump administration’s harmful decision to terminate hundreds of millions of dollars in CVI grants, this bill is needed now more than ever. We owe it to every victim, survivor, and community member living in fear to invest in proven, community-driven solutions. So, please, join us in urging Congress to support the Break the Cycle of Violence Act! |
Congratulations to our Team ENOUGH Graduates!
Team ENOUGH, our youth-led initiative, has multiple activists graduating from high school and college this year. These young changemakers have balanced school and extracurriculars, tirelessly working to end gun violence while earning their diplomas. Equipped with knowledge and determination (and their beautiful Team ENOUGH stole), we know they’ll continue to achieve great things, including a future free from gun violence. Congratulations to each and every one of them — we couldn't be prouder!
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(L-R): Ashleigh Ontaneda, a graduate of Marquette University; Sarah Youssef, a graduate of the University of California, Irvine; Lauren Williams, a graduate of the University of San Diego; Luisa Depkin, a graduate of a Baltimore County High School; Katherine Woods, a graduate of the University of San Diego; Kamelia Ortiz, a graduate of the University of Central Florida; Jasir Rahman, a graduate of Rice University. |
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Thank you for supporting Brady and our work to prevent gun violence and save lives. We rely heavily on the generosity of activists like you to fund our work to create a safer America. If you’re in this fight, please join Brady today by making a gift. |
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