John,

This year has been tough for our movement, with institutional attacks on the hard-won progress that keeps us safe. And after the complete dissolution of federal support for gun violence prevention, we are still facing further opposition: The president is following the gun lobby’s playbook, introducing a flood of destructive Executive Actions and gutting the ATF to stall our momentum. But Brady was founded during the height of the gun industry’s rise to power, and we know how to fight back – and win.

This year, Brady’s legal team secured the largest verdict against a gun company in history–$62,000,000– paving the way for a second wave of accountability litigation. We are working with gun violence prevention partners and sharing our toolkits on how local and state legislation can help communities succeed within the constraints of the immunity Congress gave the gun industry twenty years ago. Together, we are creating a system that holds reckless gun dealers accountable for perpetuating the deadly cycle of gun violence. 

In August, Brady represented the City of Baltimore in its trial against a gun dealer, Hanover Armory. Just outside of the city lines, the gun dealer was selling deadly ghost gun “kits” without conducting background checks or requiring identification. Hanover Armory became a hot spot for buyers who would not pass a background check, meaning they were underage or barred from purchasing firearms. Hundreds of ghost guns were recovered from crimes across Baltimore and found in the possession of children as young as 13 years old. 
 

The message from the jury was clear: The people of Baltimore have dealt with enough gun violence. After two weeks of trial, the jury deliberated for under two hours before rendering its verdict. We asked for a $30 million abatement fund from Hanover Armory, and the jury reached a verdict calling for double.

And that’s not all. Brady’s legal team is celebrating decisions that protect life-saving legislation, pursue accountability for negligent dealers, and influence constitutional litigation:

• We filed a new lawsuit in Cook County, IL, against nationwide gun dealer Range USA and others whose conduct failed to recognize red flags of a straw purchase, which led to an 18-year-old getting a gun by having his girlfriend purchase it and using it to shoot our client. We are hoping that this case will bring justice for our client and address the significant danger that straw purchasing poses to public safety.
• The Supreme Court ruled that ghost guns — unserialized, home-assembled firearms — can be subject to the same regulations as traditional firearms. We filed multiple amicus briefs in support of the ATF’s ghost gun rule. The Supreme Court’s decision is paramount in keeping untraceable weapons off the streets.
• Brady’s constitutional litigation team will file 43 amicus briefs before year-end, continuing to fight for a reasonable interpretation of the Second Amendment that prioritizes public safety.

John, we are doing more than just holding the line; we are making life-saving progress against dangerous gun dealers and the gun lobby’s agenda. This critical work would not be possible without your support. If you’d like to fuel our fight in the courts in 2026 and the years to come, please donate now to help us free America from gun violence. >>

Thank you,

Shira Feldman
Senior Director of Constitutional Litigation, Brady