John, I have big news to share. And it’s very good news — which I know we all really need to hear these days. But first, I need to give you some background.
In 1999, my son, Josh, was just six years old when a white supremacist gunman opened fire at his Jewish day camp. Josh was shot in the leg and hip. One bullet broke his leg. Another lodged in his back, just missing his spine. Two other young children, a teen counselor, and a receptionist were also shot and the gunman continued the rampage and killed a postal worker.
I wanted to demand accountability for this tragedy. But when I joined other families to sue the gun manufacturers whose negligent business practices led to this attack, we were stopped. A gun industry protection law called the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) impacted our case dramatically.
My family and other victims of the anti-Semitic shooting rampage had no recourse. To say it was infuriating and unfair is an understatement. No American should have courthouse doors slammed in their face because an industry is given special protections by Congress.
But those protections my family faced now end in California. Because this week, following my testimony and those of others, Gov. Newsom signed a bill into law that bypasses PLCAA and allows victims of gun violence to hold the gun industry accountable.
Gunmakers and sellers in California will no longer be immune in court. Victims and their families, like mine, will now have a path to justice. And negligent gunmakers can be pushed to make business and manufacturing reforms.
John, this is a monumental victory that cannot be understated. Brady has been fighting to peel back the special protections the gun industry has for years. And I’ve been fighting for over 20 years, since that horrific day in 1999 when I got the call that my son was shot.
This is why I do this work with Brady: because we can change the law, save lives, and prevent the devastation my family experienced. And it’s not just in California. This past week, Brady helped pass more than a dozen gun violence prevention bills in Delaware, New York, and New Jersey.
The momentum is on our side. But here’s the thing, John: We cannot do this work alone. Your support allows us to pass life-saving laws on the state level, take the gun industry to court, and so much more. Will you consider donating to Brady as we continue to fight for gun violence prevention in states across the country?
