John, tomorrow marks 27 years since the landmark Brady Bill was enacted into law after years of lobbying by Jim and Sarah Brady, our fearless namesakes. That day, the Brady Background Check System was established for gun sales, helping ensure guns are not sold to those who intend to use them to cause harm.
President Bill Clinton (right) signing the Brady Bill into law beside Jim Brady (left).
After Jim survived a bullet to the head during the 1981 assassination attempt of President Reagan, he and Sarah knew our country urgently needed common-sense solutions to prevent the trauma, pain, and devastation that their family experienced. Nearly three decades later, we know Jim and Sarah would be proud of the results.
Since 1994, the Brady Background Check system has blocked over 3.5 million prohibited purchasers from buying a gun. The Brady Bill has helped save countless lives, but our work isn’t finished yet.
In America, 1 in 5 guns are sold without a Brady Background Check — no questions asked — including at gun shows and online. In 2019, the U.S. House passed legislation to address these loopholes by strengthening and expanding Brady Background Checks. But Sen. McConnell refused to bring the legislation up for a vote even though the policy is supported by over 90% of Americans.
We know it can be done! Jim and Sarah worked hand-in-hand with then Sen. Joe Biden to pass the Brady Bill. Now, it’s up to us to continue their legacy and work alongside President Joe Biden into the next chapter of the gun violence prevention movement.
In honor of Jim and Sarah, let's honor their hard work and legacy by expanding and strengthening Brady Background Checks once and for all!
Remembering Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin
This week one year ago, Ahmaud Arbery was murdered in Georgia, and nine years ago this week, Trayvon Martin was murdered in Florida. In the aftermath of these senseless tragedies, both of their murders were justified by racist and discriminatory so-called "Stand Your Ground laws," which legally allow anyone to shoot and kill another person anywhere, at any time.
Ahmaud and Trayvon should still be here with us today, but America's dark history of white vigilantism against Black Americans coupled with reckless so-called Stand Your Ground laws is why they — and countless other Black and Brown Americans — are not. We must each vow to take action to address our country’s deadly mix of weak gun laws and systemic racism. In honor of Ahmaud and Trayvon, share our graphic on Facebook denouncing so-called Stand Your Ground laws.
Brady Legal Helps Advance Lawsuit in Canada to Hold Gun Manufacturer Smith & Wesson Accountable
This is big news — not just for Canada — but for all Americans, John. This week, a Canadian court ruled that a lawsuit Brady Legal is assisting in against gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson can proceed for their role in the Danforth mass shooting in Ontario, Canada, where a gunman shot and killed two people and injured 13 others.
The lawsuit on behalf of the victims and survivors of the shooting aims to hold Smith & Wesson accountable for failing to design and incorporate "smart gun" technology into the type of firearm that was used during the shooting. Smart gun technology is a common-sense safety feature that would prevent Smith & Wessons guns from being fired by prohibited purchasers.
So, why does this matter for us in America? Legal cases similar to this have been dismissed here in the United States due to special immunity protections enjoyed by gun manufacturers, namely the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). But this ruling in Canada, where gun manufacturers do not enjoy PLCAA, could help open the door to more gun manufactures safely designing their weapons produced in the United States. Read more about our new legal case in Canada.
RSVP NOW: "Gun Reform: The Current Legal Landscape”
We have the best opportunity in a generation to address gun violence in Congress. But how will it play out politically and what are the legal implications? Hosted by NYU's Annual Survey of American Law and the NYU Law Brady Chapter, Brady Vice President of Policy Christian Heyne, Brady Legal Vice President Jon Lowy, and Team ENOUGH Executive Council member Aalayah Eastmond will address these questions alongside activists, lawyers, policymakers, and professors. RSVP now for the virtual event on Friday, March 19, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
🎧 Episode 118: Why Survivors Must Lead in Gun Violence Prevention
What roles should survivors play in preventing gun violence? And what is it like to fight for justice when it’s been denied to you? We spoke with Brady California President Mattie Scott and Brady leader Suzanne Kelley, two women who have lost family members to gun violence and are left without answers into who murdered them.
🎧 FROM THE ARCHIVES — Episode 3: The Brady Bill
In recognition of the 27th anniversary of the Brady Bill, we're revisiting our first full-length podcast episode with Rep. Coelho, a former House Majority Whip. We discuss his time in Congress when the Brady Bill was first introduced, Jim and Sarah's life-saving legacy, and the intersection of gun violence prevention and disability rights.
Teen Killed by Juvenile in Accidental Shooting at Colorado Home, Police Say, Newsweek
Virginia Passes Bill Banning Firearms at State Capitol, WHSV
Biden Considers Regulating 'Ghost Guns,' Other Executive Actions To Curb Gun Violence, Politico
Gun Sales in Ohio Surged in 2020, Mirroring Rising U.S. Demand, Columbus Dispatch
More Maine Towns Consider Becoming 2nd Amendment Sanctuaries, Even As How It Would Be Enforced Remains Unclear, Bangor Daily News
Sky is part of the Team ENOUGH Lobbying Collective, which is the only national, youth-led group lobbying legislators on gun reform in America. This past semester, Sky led the Virginia Lobbying Collective and its members to advocate for laws that will prevent gun violence and invest in Virginia communities.
Sky explains, "I am super passionate about gun reform and racial equality for all people. It is pertinent to give every marginalized voice that is disproportionately affected by gun violence a platform to share their experiences and be a part of changing the narrative.”
We at Brady couldn't be more proud to work with a fierce, Black youth leader like Sky, who always strives to address gun violence from a perspective of racial equity. Read more about Sky and other Black youth leaders from Team ENOUGH we're highlighting this Black History Month.
Join Brady and tell your legislators: #NoGunsInGovSpaces
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