We Need Background Checks Now
Following last weekend’s mass shooting in Odessa, President Trump declared that background checks “wouldn’t have prevented” the massacre. He was wrong. Authorities have said that the Texas gunman purchased the murder weapon, an AR-15-style rifle, through a private sale, which is a known loophole to avoid going through a background check. What’s especially devastating is this: A bill to require background checks for private gun sales is sitting on McConnell's desk. It’s been sitting there for almost 200 days, and it's continuing to gather dust while more and more Americans die. We cannot accept this. Demand Trump and McConnell pass gun safety legislation!
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Thank You, Walmart!
On Tuesday, Walmart showed our elected officials exactly what it means to take action, not sides, and prevent gun violence. The retailer will stop selling ammunition for assault weapons and handguns. It also demanded that Congress and Trump “do their part” and take action on the common-sense legislation to prevent gun violence. Join us in thanking Walmart for their leadership to make America safer.
Tobacco Kills People. Opioids Kill People. But Guns Don’t?
Last week, a judge ruled against Johnson & Johnson, ordering the company to pay $572 million for its misleading marketing that fueled Oklahoma’s opioid epidemic. Yet gun manufacturers engage in deceptive marketing ploys with no accountability. Why? Because state and federal laws have been passed specifically to protect the gun industry from liability. Read our explainer on Medium.
Next Week, House Leaders Address Gun Safety!
The House Judiciary Committee will meet on September 10-11 to discuss lifesaving gun safety legislation in the wake of recent mass shootings. The committee will look at measures that are part of Brady’s comprehensive plan, including extreme risks laws and a ban on high-capacity magazines. This is PROGRESS! We need your help to fill the room and show support for common-sense gun safety on two seperate days. Help us pack the room! Sign up to join us on September 10 and September 11!
Last weekend, our youth-led initiative, Team ENOUGH, was part of “Cause Village” at the Made in America music festival in Philly. It was a huge success — we signed up an incredible 500 new young activists to join the fight against gun violence! Join a Team ENOUGH chapter today.
We Can't Talk About Gun Violence Without Talking About Suicide
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and Suicide Prevention Week is September 8-14. If we want to end gun violence, we must be informed about the link between guns and suicide.
Suicides account for 60% of gun deaths in America.
Every day, 63 people die by suicide with a gun.
Every day, 20 veterans die by suicide, and two-thirds use a gun.
The national suicide rate has risen by over 30% since 2000.
The presence of a gun in the home increases the risk for suicide by 300%.
We know that we can respect the rights and culture of gun owners while also promoting solutions. By having the courage to talk about guns and suicide, we honor the lives of those we have lost, and we protect the lives of those who remain. Read our resource with the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) on how to provide emotional support for survivors of gun violence, and find more suicide prevention resources from Team ENOUGH.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call the free and confidential National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.
Tell Congress: Ban Assault Weapons
Assault weapons are lethal. They allow the most murders in the shortest amount of time, and they have no place in civilian hands. A bipartisan bill to ban assault weapons needs just a few more cosponsors to move forward. We need your help! Send a message now urging key representatives to support this lifesaving bill!
Victory! A Step Towards Justice for Victims of the Charleston Church Shooting
For years, Brady Legal has been fighting in court to secure justice for the victims of the Charleston Church shooting, in which a white supremacist killed 9 people and injured more. Brady, represented by Ben Softness, argued in front of the Fourth Circuit. And the court heard us loud and clear! Last week, the Fourth Circuit ruled that survivors and family members of victims can proceed with their lawsuit against the federal government. This important legal case highlights a dangerous gap in our nation’s gun laws that permits gun sales to go through after three days — even if a background check hasn’t been completed. This deadly gap, known as the “Charleston Loophole,” is what allowed the Charleston shooter to obtain his gun. We’re working on every front — from the courtroom to the U.S. Capitol — to close this deadly loophole and prevent further tragedy. Read more about this legal victory.
Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) Hero of the Week
#MyLastShot is a powerful campaign created by Columbine high school graduate and Team ENOUGH leader Kaylee Turner. #MyLastShot invites students to pledge to share their photo if they are killed by gun violence. The campaign aims to show the world the harsh reality of gun violence, with the hope of using young people’s voices to create meaningful change. Take the #MyLastShot pledge today.
Brady in the News: Must-Reads
Walmart to end sales for ammunition for handguns, assault rifles, ABC World News
Brady President Kris Brown on Proposals to Prevent Gun Violence, C-SPAN
Victims Of The Charleston Church Mass Shooting Can Sue Over Background Check Failures That Let The Shooter Buy A Gun, A Court Ruled, Buzzfeed
How Walmart became an unlikely champion of gun safety, CNN Business
Virginia is a ‘bellwether’ on gun control. Here’s how things have changed, Virginia Mercury
Pressure Mounts on Sen. McConnell to Act on Gun Violence, Cheddar
Brady Quote of the Week
“Many states took the opportunity in the last two years to learn lessons from the tragedies in Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Parkland, and the everyday gun violence that plagues our citizens, and enacted new laws to protect public safety through expanded background checks and extreme risk laws. Texas lawmakers, instead, doubled down on an NRA-led agenda to encourage guns everywhere, no matter the risks and costs to safety.”
—Brady President, Kris Brown on CNN
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