John,
Ghost guns are unregulated and untraceable firearms that anyone can buy without a background check. They are often sold as “ghost gun kits” with all of the necessary parts to build a firearm at home. During the coronavirus pandemic, we've seen a nationwide increase in sales of these dangerous, unchecked weapons. But where do they come from, and how are they made?
They are quickly and easily produced thanks to metal milling machines, which are specifically designed to rapidly finish ghost guns and are increasingly being marketed and sold to the public. These machines are intended for major manufacturers, but they are being sold to the general public at relatively inexpensive prices. As a result, individuals can virtually become gun manufacturers and dealers within their own homes.
We cannot allow the proliferation of ghost guns. They are often linked to homicides, mass shootings, robberies, and the shooting deaths of law enforcement officers.
That's why we must pass the Stop Home Manufacture of Ghost Guns Act, or H.R. 7468, which was introduced last week by Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Rep. David Cicilline (RI-01). This common-sense bill would prevent the spread of untraceable ghost guns by banning anyone who is not a licensed firearms manufacturer from owning machines that have a primary purpose of building functioning guns at home.
But we need enough cosponsors to bring this bill to a vote in the House. Please, tell your representative to cosponsor the Stop Home Manufacture of Ghost Guns Act immediately!
TELL YOUR REP. TO COSPONSOR H.R. 7468
Who are the Gun-Toting "Boogaloo Bois"?
The Boogaloo movement is an extremist, pro-gun subculture aligned with the far-right and white nationalists. One of their main goals? To upend the pillars of government and start a “race war” to destroy America’s multicultural society.
They've used nationwide protests over police violence and the killing of George Floyd to sow racial discord and bring life to their goal. And the movement is made more lethal by easy access to firearms.
Sarah Brady nearly lost her husband, Jim Brady, during the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. But that didn’t stop her. She turned pain and grief into political triumph and joined what would become the Brady Board of Directors. By the early 1990s, she made her mark on history by leading the organization to pass the landmark Brady Bill as Chairwoman of our Board.
Are you ready to make your mark on history? Apply for the Chapters Representative position on the Brady Board of Directors! You will have the opportunity to help guide and shape our 90 grassroots chapters to mobilize against gun violence.
If you are interested in running, submit your name to [email protected] and have a fellow Brady chapter member second the nomination. Applications are due by Monday, July 13, so apply now! You can email Robert Disney at [email protected] if you have any questions. Take your activism to the next level today by applying for the Brady Board of Directors!
Virginia is Showing America Why Elections Matter
This week, we attended Gov. Northam’s official ceremony to sign gun violence prevention bills into law! This historic victory, which was years in the making, proves why elections matter. After NRA-bought state legislators refused to so much as consider gun reform legislation last summer, we told them that voters would hold them accountable. And it wasn't a bluff. In November, voters replaced them with a gun safety majority, and now gun reform is the law of the land in Virginia.
THROWBACK: Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (L) and Brady President Kris Brown (R) rallying outside of the Virginia State Capitol last summer for stronger gun laws. Then, Brady President Kris Brown (L) joining Speaker of the Virginia House Eileen Filler-Corn (C) and Brady Northern Virginia Chapter President Martina Leinz (R) for Gov. Northam’s official ceremony.
To keep up this momentum across the country, we need to make sure every single person can access the ballot box to vote for gun safety champions. Our new #VotingAccessSavesLives campaign lays out a plan for how you can take action to ensure voting access in your state. We believe the fight for democracy is the fight for gun violence prevention. Join our #VotingAccessSavesLives campaign with March For Our Lives today!
Join Our #VotingAccessSavesLives Campaign!
Allison Shaw joins JJ and Christian Heyne, Vice President of Policy at Brady, to discuss the trauma of suffering and living with a gunshot wound and the activism that can spring from such an injury. Listen now.
VIDEO THROWBACK: Rallying for Stronger Gun Laws at the Virginia State Capitol
Last summer, before gun violence prevention champions were elected, lawmakers failed to take action following the Virginia Beach shooting. Watch Brady Northern Virginia Chapter President Martina Leinz rally the crowd on the steps of the Virginia State Capitol to take action in November. Watch the video on Facebook.
The NRA's Silence on Racist Police Violence is Deafening, Salon
Amid Protests and Virus Fears, Firearm Background Checks Hit All-Time High, NPR
Through Protests and the Pandemic, Gun Background Checks Hit Record High, Fast Company
Team ENOUGH San Diego Co-Lead Caroline Zdanowski, Beautiful We
Caroline is an original founder of Team ENOUGH San Diego and has been an active co-leader ever since. She helps organize events to educate her community about gun safety and lobbies local city officials to pass stronger gun laws. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Team ENOUGH San Diego has had to shift gears, turning all of their advocacy from in-person to virtual. But Caroline believes this is an opportunity for all activists to be heard, especially those who wouldn’t be able to make in-person events.
Caroline is helping lead Team ENOUGH San Diego in their preparation for the November elections, and while she’s not old enough to vote yet, she’s determined to inspire those who can. We are proud to have such a committed and passionate youth advocate at the head of Team ENOUGH San Diego! Read more now!
— Kelly Sampson of Brady Legal Counsel, Constitutional Litigation, and Racial Justice at Brady in Salon
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