Monterey Park. Half Moon Bay. Des Moines. Baton Rouge. Yakima. 

Many think it’ll never happen to their community. But after this week, John, these cities and towns have been added to the list of communities devastated by gun violence. Day after day, headlines rolled in with stories of Americans being gunned down in places they should be safe — from community events, to schools, and neighborhoods. 

It pains me to write messages like this, John. Not only because so many lives were taken or changed forever, but because I know that there are solutions to prevent these tragedies.

Gun violence is a public health crisis that claims the lives of more than 40,000 people in the U.S. each year — and it takes many forms. Mass shootings, gun suicide, interpersonal gun violence, and unintentional shootings all play a role. I wish we could solve this epidemic with a single policy, but such a complex issue calls for comprehensive solutions.

In Congress, we must ban assault weapons and expand Brady Background Checks on gun sales, policies that the overwhelming majority of Americans support. In the courts, we must hold the gun industry accountable for negligently supplying or manufacturing firearms. We must identify and reform gun dealers who fuel violence by flooding predominantly Black and Brown communities with guns. But we must also change the culture. Gun owners play a key role in this fight, and we must be able to have meaningful conversations about gun safety in our communities. 

John, these are solutions Brady is championing each and every day. And despite tragedies like those we saw this week, we’re making real progress. We must always remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint and it will take all of us, especially dedicated grassroots activists like you, to enact the life-saving reforms we so desperately need.

So please, as we reflect on the events of this week, join Brady in taking action to end this epidemic. Together, we can create a safer future for our loved ones.

With gratitude,
Kris Brown
President, Brady

You’re Invited — Remembering Parkland 5 Years Later: Commemoration and Vigil Hosted by Team ENOUGH

February 14 marks five years since 14 students and three educators were shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School in Parkland, FL. In a matter of minutes, lives were forever changed and others were cut short by America’s gun violence epidemic. And while those 17 lives may be gone, their memories live on with us as we honor them with action.

That’s why you’re invited to join Brady, Team ENOUGH, and our partners at March For Our Lives and Change the Ref for a commemoration event and vigil in honor of Parkland. Join us on Tuesday, February 14, at 6:30 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C.

During our event, you’ll hear from Team ENOUGH leaders, gun violence survivors, activists, and elected officials. Please join us as we honor the victims and survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, recommit to action, and reflect on the countless others who have been impacted by gun violence.

Help Educate Your Community About Safe Firearm Storage

76% of school shootings are facilitated by kids having access to unsecured and/or unsupervised guns at home. By storing firearms safely — which means locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition — we can help keep firearms out of our schools and prevent firearm suicide.

Ken Mitchell of the Brady Sarasota, FL, chapter has been a teacher and superintendent for four-decades and has seen the threat posed by easy access to firearms firsthand:

“Twice I’ve confiscated loaded guns from students who intended harm. As a superintendent, I disarmed a parent who threatened to shoot me,” said Ken in a recent article he penned to superintendents across the nation. 

Educators, like Ken, play an integral role in talking to parents about the risk of unsecured firearms. We thank him for spreading the life-saving message of safe firearm storage. Please join him by encouraging educators in your community to engage parents and guardians in conversations about safe firearm storage!

Episode 217 — “Your Man Card Reissued”: The Truth About Masculinity and Gun Violence

In America, over 90% of mass shootings are committed by men and boys. Men and boys are also predominantly the victims of gun violence. But why? This week, we’re joined by psychologist and author Dr. Ronald F. Levant, an expert who specializes in the psychology of masculinity and gender, to find out. We discuss whether or not masculinity and gun violence are intrinsically connected, how advertisers and manufacturers have leaned into societal pressures of gender norms to sell firearms, and how all of us can combat this troubling reality to prevent violence. 

Tragedies, Moments of Silence Become Painful Routine for Kerr, NBC Sports

Why Enforcing Gun Laws is Easier Said Than Done for California, NPR

Why the Warriors Spent Their White House Visit Discussing Gun Violence, Sports Illustrated

Mass Shootings Can be Contagious, Research Shows, NPR

New CDC Data Shows 2021 was Record Year for Gun Violence, Brady

Two-Thirds of Firearm Deaths Can be Prevented. Kansas City, Get Your Free Gun Locks, Kansas City Star

State Must do Better Regulating Gun Sellers, The Mercury News

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