John,
My name is Fred Guttenberg and I am a father of two children, Jesse and Jaime. Ahead of Father’s Day tomorrow, I am writing to you because we need to talk about what’s killing our children: America’s gun violence epidemic.
On February 14, 2018, my 14-year-old daughter, Jaime Guttenberg, was murdered by a man armed with an assault weapon, alongside 13 other children and three of their teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. My son, Jesse, now 20, survived the shooting and lives with the permanent scars of having heard his sister get shot.
Jaime and me. Father’s Day isn’t the same.
It’s why I am asking you to support a national movement of #DadsForGunSafety. Alongside Brady, I've written an open letter to every dad in America: Please join #DadsForGunSafety. Now I am asking you to join us to help save lives.
Every year, a devastating 40,000 people in America are killed with guns in incidents of mass shootings, domestic and community violence, hate crimes, suicide, and family fire. These aren’t just statistics. They are the empty seats at graduation ceremonies, family vacations, and Father’s Day BBQs. It’s a reality I live every single day. Just last week, I was supposed to be a proud father sitting in the stands to watch Jaime accept her high school diploma. But Jaime didn’t get to walk across that stage. Instead, I spent Jaime’s would-be graduation day visiting her grave.
Thank you,
Fred Guttenberg
Gun Violence Survivor
Jaime and Jesse's Dad
P.S. I had an unforgettable interview about our #DadsForGunSafety campaign on Morning Joe yesterday with former Rep. Joe Walsh. You can watch the interview here.
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ICYMI: Celebrate Juneteenth Alongside Brady!
Yesterday was Juneteenth, an annual holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth has long been celebrated by Black Americans since the late 1800s, but in recent years, this celebration is resonating in new ways as our country reckons with the systemic murders of Black men, women, and those part of the LGBTQ+ community. We at Brady closed our offices to recognize Juneteenth.
We recognize that Juneteenth is a celebration of Black life and Black excellence. Now, more than ever, it is also a time to listen to Black Americans: to understand and address the systemic racism and inequality that is woven into all of American life. We at Brady recognize that police violence is gun violence and that gun violence is inextricably linked to systemic racism and inequality, including our nation’s voting laws.
Recognizing Juneteenth is only the first step. It doesn't end systemic racism or stop the disproportionate impacts of gun violence. But it is a step in the right direction. As a supporter of Brady, here’s how you can help celebrate Juneteenth this weekend:
- Learn more about Black-led organizations in the movement like the Community Justice Action Fund, GoodKidsMadCity, and the T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project.
- Spend time reading up on anti-racism, particularly for white Americans seeking to be better allies in solidarity.
- Support a Black-owned business in your community.
Help Us Spread the Word: Team ENOUGH is Going on a Florida Recruitment Tour!
Team ENOUGH, our youth-led initiative, is heading back to the so-called “Gunshine State” to recruit more youth to join the movement against gun violence — and we need your help spreading the word! Will you share our tour dates with a young person you know? They'll have the chance to learn and advocate alongside Team ENOUGH leaders like Parkland survivors and activists Aalayah Eastmond and Robert Schentrup, National Coordinator Stephan Abrams, and partners like Fred Guttenberg and Change the Ref!
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June is Gun Violence Awareness Month — Help Us Honor With Action!
This week, we’re recognizing Christian Heyne, a survivor of gun violence and Brady’s Vice President of Policy. In 2005, after returning home from a sun-filled Memorial Day weekend, his father was shot and severely injured and his mother was killed by a man who should have never had access to a firearm. Since then, Christian has channeled his pain and experiences to prevent what his family — and so many others — experienced, finding the power of his voice as a gun violence survivor.
Christian with his mother, Jan.
He founded a Brady Chapter in California, took part in an undercover investigation into Virginia’s “gun show loophole” after the Virginia Tech massacre, and has been instrumental in the passage of state and federal policies. Today, Christian leads Brady as a survivor of gun violence and continues to fight for common-sense solutions on behalf of his parents and all victims of gun violence. We thank Christian for his tireless dedication to preventing gun violence and for sharing his story as a survivor.
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Help Us Honor the Victims and Survivors of the Charleston Church Shooting
Thursday marked six years since a white supremacist walked into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, SC, and opened fire on a Bible study group. When the massacre was over, he had murdered nine Black worshippers. We at Brady know that white supremacy kills and it is made all the more deadly by our nation's weak and broken gun laws. But we have the chance to pass legislation that would close the lethal loophole that allowed the gunman to obtain his weapon. Please urge the U.S. Senate to strengthen and expand Brady Background Checks to close the “Charleston loophole” and help prevent tragedies like the Charleston shooting.
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VICTORY: New York Advances Legislation to Hold the Gun Industry Accountable
Thanks to your calls and emails, New York has changed the landscape for gun violence prevention with the historic passage of two bills that would hold gun makers, distributors, and dealers accountable for fueling the epidemic of gun violence! These bills, which are the first in the nation, challenge the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, aka “PLCAA,” which shields the gun industry with special protections unlike any other industry in America.
If these bills are signed into law, gun violence victims and survivors will finally have their day in court and be able to hold the gun industry accountable when they break the law.
This is a BIG deal. We know that most crime guns are sold by a small number of gun dealers. In fact, 90% of all crime guns can be traced to just 5% of dealers. Holding negligent dealers accountable will address cycles of violence that are fueled by crime guns in predominantly Black and Brown communities throughout New York. Now it's up to Gov. Cuomo to sign these landmark bills into law without delay!
🎧 Episode 134: How the Private Loophole Harms
Darien Richardson was 25 years old when she was shot during a home invasion. Fifty-one days later, Darien died from her injuries. Police quickly recovered the murder weapon, but the gun could not be traced to the shooter because of the “private sale” loophole — which allows prohibited purchasers to buy guns without a background check. We’re joined by Darien’s parents, Wayne and Judi Richardson, to discuss their fight to close this lethal loophole.
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Thank you, John, for staying up-to-date on Brady's work across Congress, courts, and communities. Our work is not possible without grassroots donors like you. Will you consider donating to continue our life-saving work today? Thank you for being a Brady supporter and joining us in the fight to prevent gun violence.
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