From Brady Newsletter <[email protected]>
Subject I was only 17 when I nearly lost my life to gun violence
Date September 24, 2022 10:01 AM
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www.bradyunited.org [www.bradyunited.org]

Yesterday marked 28 years since I nearly lost my life, John. I was just 17 years old when a bullet ripped through my throat and ruptured my windpipe after a High School football game. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the trauma team at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia.

Most 17 year olds have no idea what to do with their lives or what career path to take. But this tragedy changed the trajectory of my life. I went to medical school, became a trauma surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and now I wake each day to treat victims of gun violence. Years into the profession, I made national headlines after the NRA told me and the medical community to “stay in our lane.”
They called me out for asking patients if they had unsecured firearms in the home. But what they really meant was that they didn’t want the medical community to get involved in addressing this public health crisis. But the NRA is flat-out wrong.

Doctors, nurses, medics, and other health professionals deal with the consequences of gun violence on a daily basis. We see the first-hand impact of gun violence. And we’re uniquely situated to address this senseless violence head-on.

Part of the solution to diagnose and treat gun violence is securing more robust data through research. Congress must continue to appropriate federal dollars for gun violence research so we can understand its full scope, and the solutions to prevent it. But we must also change the culture and norms surrounding firearms. By safely storing firearms, which means locked, unloaded, and separated from ammunition, we can help prevent unintentional gun death and injury caused by unsecured firearms.

As with any public health crisis, gun violence is a problem that no one person or group can face alone. I’ve made lasting changes with Brady over the years. But we can’t do this work alone — and that’s why I’m reaching out today. Will you consider supporting Brady with a gift today? Your support will help us pass life-saving safe storage laws in Congress, secure funding for gun violence research, and treat gun violence as the public health issue that it is. [[link removed]]

DONATE >>> [[link removed]]
I am tired of treating victims of gun violence. We need common-sense gun laws and we need them now. Please help us make that reality. [[link removed]]

In solidarity,
[link removed] [[link removed]] Dr. Joseph Sakran
Trauma Surgeon
Gun Violence Survivor
Brady Board Member

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Houses Passes the Break the Cycle of Violence Act

EXCITING NEWS: This week, the U.S. House passed [[link removed]] the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, life-saving legislation to invest in evidence-based anti-violence programs and provide job opportunity and workforce training to break cycles of gun violence.
This kind of sustained funding for community violence intervention is essential to reducing gun violence in disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities. We owe it to all the victims and survivors of gun violence — as well as those who live every day in fear of being shot — to invest in these proven solutions.

We thank Rep. Horsford for championing this legislation and the Community Justice Action Fund and our allies in the #InvestInUS coalition for spearheading this win. Now, we urge the U.S. Senate to swiftly pass this legislation. [[link removed]]
READ MORE [[link removed]]
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🎧 Episode 203: Fighting Fear — and Assault Weapons — With Handgun Control Inc.
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Before Richard Aborn was the president of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, he was at the helm of the organization that would one day become known as Brady: Handgun Control Inc.
During his presidency from 1992 to 1996, he saw vital movement on gun violence prevention, including the passage of the Brady Bill and the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Richard joins us this week to share the critical lessons learned in passing that legislation, what it was like to see the assault weapons ban sunset in 1994, and why reinstating the ban is imperative.

LISTEN NOW >>> [[link removed]]
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Mass Shooting Victims and Survivors From More Than 12 Communities Urge Senate to Pass S. 736 — the Federal Assault Weapons Ban — in Landmark Event [[link removed]] , PR Newswire

Rifle Picture Becomes Campaign Issue [[link removed]] , The Republic

Attorney General Bonta Launches Office of Gun Violence Prevention [[link removed]] , Attorney General Bonta

Brady Applauds U.S. House for Passing Break the Cycle of Violence Act With Bipartisan Support [[link removed]] , Brady

Suspicious Gun Purchases Can Finally Be Tracked [[link removed]] , The American Prospect
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This week, we were proud partners of March Fourth’s #PassTheBan rally in Washington, D.C. March Fourth was formed by victims and survivors of the Highland Park massacre. They are demanding the U.S. Senate ban assault weapons, like the one used to kill seven people and wound 48 others in their community. Together, we marched, rallied, and fought like hell to push the Senate to pass the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 [[link removed]] , which would reinstate the 1994 ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
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“We need to change the laws and provide more resources to better enforce existing laws — from reinstating the assault weapon ban to strengthening and expanding the Brady Background Check system, or ensuring that members of the gun industry act responsibly. But we also need to change our societal norms. We need to ensure that our nation understands that the freedom to possess firearms comes along with a serious responsibility to protect each other.” — Brady President Kris Brown
Before the rally, Brady President Kris Brown joined March Fourth to discuss banning assault weapons with the White House’s Susan Rice. [[link removed]]

We couldn’t be more appreciative for our partnership with March Fourth. These victims and survivors have turned their pain into action to help protect other communities from the senseless violence they’ve endured — and we’re proud to have played a part in their life-saving efforts. Please join us in recognizing March Fourth on Twitter!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT >>>
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Brady Senior Counsel and Director of Racial Justice Kelly Sampson joins lawmakers and advocates to discuss the passage of the Break the Cycle of Violence Act.

“Many Americans were shocked to learn that gun violence has become the leading cause of death for all children and teens nationwide, but it’s long been the leading cause of death for Black children and teens [[link removed]] , who are 14 times more likely than white children and teens to die by gun homicide. Moreover, Hispanic and Native American children and teens are three times more likely to die from gun violence than white children.
These disparities are not inevitable. The Break The Cycle of Violence Act will directly address these issues by providing historical investments in communities most impacted by cycles of violence and trauma. By taking a public health approach and investing in evidence-based programs, we can not only alleviate the daily toll of gun violence, but also begin to undo years of disinvestment and injustice in the most impacted communities.”
— Kelly Sampson, Brady Senior Counsel and Director of Racial Justice

READ MORE [[link removed]]
Thank you for supporting Brady and our work to prevent gun violence and save lives. We rely heavily on the generosity of activists like you to fund our work to create a safer America. If you're in this fight, please join Brady today by making a gift.

DONATE NOW [[link removed]]
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