John,
Over 30 years ago, I got involved with Brady. I knew that I needed to do something to stop innocent victims from being shot and killed every day in America.
Like so many others, I never thought that my life would be impacted by gun violence. But 21 years ago on this coming Monday, my daughter, Laura, bright and beautiful at age 19, was senselessly shot and killed in a mass shooting.
The shooter’s family and girlfriend as well as a caseworker had serious concerns about his access to guns due to behavioral warning signs. But under California and federal law at the time, he wasn’t banned from possessing guns. It’s why I need to talk about extreme risk laws with you, John.
Extreme risk laws, also known as red flag laws, are life-saving gun violence prevention measures that give family members and law enforcement an avenue to petition a court to temporarily remove guns from those in crisis, without jeopardizing Second Amendment rights. Had an extreme risk law been in place 21 years ago, Laura might very well be with me and our family today…
After Laura was killed, I led Brady California in helping California become the first state to pass an extreme risk law. Since 1993, California's firearm death rate has dropped 57 percent. I like to think that even in death, Laura is saving lives. And you can help us save even more. Please, contact Congress today.
In solidarity,
Amanda Wilcox
Former Brady California Policy and Legislative Chair
Laura’s mom
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ICYMI: Brady Releases New Report on the January 6 Capitol Insurrection
"I'm asking you to fight like your very right to survival is on the line in this national election."
— NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre in October 2020
We simply can't ignore the role that Second Amendment extremism played in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Our new report illustrates the long-building timeline of this attack, fostered by violent gun lobby rhetoric by the NRA and others, and what gun violence prevention policies Congress must enact to guard against similar attacks.
You can also listen to our special podcast episode with Rep. Jamie Raskin. We talked to Rep. Raskin about his new book, “Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy” (published this week), the role that guns and gun laws played in the insurrection, what lessons the events of January 6 should teach us, and what concerned listeners can do to act.
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Episode 164: How to Turn Outrage Over Gun Violence Into Action
Sen. Chris Murphy and Team ENOUGH Executive Council member Simone Paradis discuss their activism in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting, how we can combat the filibuster, and why we must continue to fight for gun violence prevention.
Episode 165: The Origins and Implications of the Insurrection
It’s been one year since police officers were assaulted, lives were threatened, property was vandalized, and the Capitol was looted. As we explain in our new report, the forces that gave rise to January 6 are still here, and are still dangerous. Brady President Kris Brown talks with Jenna Ben-Yehuda of the Truman Center and Truman National Security Project and Shira Goodman of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) about how Second Amendment extremism led to the insurrection and what can be done today.
Episode 166: One Year After an Insurrection — Trauma and Truth With Rep. Jamie Raskin
Rep. Jamie Raskin is a member of the House select committee looking into the January 6 Capitol insurrection. This week, in a special podcast, Brady President Kris Brown sat down with Rep. Raskin to discuss his new book, “Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy," how we can prevent another deadly attack, and more.
"I was forced to galvanize all of my love for Tommy and my daughters, Hannah and Tabitha, and my wife, Sarah, and our family and our country, and to throw myself into the trial to make the case that Donald Trump had incited this violent insurrection in an effort to overthrow the 2020 presidential election.” — Rep. Jamie Raskin
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Rep. Jamie Raskin, this week’s Gun Violence Prevention Hero, experienced two traumatic events in the span of one week. Last year, his beloved son, Tommy, died by suicide on New Years Eve. Days later, on January 6, Rep. Raskin was inside the U.S. Captiol with his family during the January 6 insurrection.
Since these life-altering events, Rep. Raskin has turned pain into action, being tasked with the impeachment trial of President Trump and leading an investigation into the January 6 Capitol insurrection. We thank Rep. Raskin for his tireless dedication to preserve and protect our democracy and for centering the role Second Amendment extremism and gun lobby rhetoric played in the Capitol insurrection.
Please join us in recognizing Rep. Raskin as our Gun Violence Prevention Hero of the Week by listening to our new podcast with him and Brady President Kris Brown.
Note from the editor: In the last edition of our weekly newsletter, we mistakenly misspelled and misidentified two Brady chapter members, LaRicha Rousell, Brady Louisiana state lead and gun violence survivor, and Donna Dees Thomases, the founder of the Million Mom March. Our sincerest apologies to Donna and LaRicha for this mistake.
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