GIVING BACK: Brady United
Brady is one of America’s oldest and boldest gun violence prevention groups, the history of success goes back decades founded by former Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan, Jim Brady and his wife, Sarah Brady. Their dedication to the prevention of gun violence began in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on President Reagan, during which Jim suffered a serious head wound and remained partially paralyzed for life.
The original Brady legislation was introduced in 1988. It took six votes over seven years and three presidencies until they were able to declare victory. On November 30, 1993 President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill into law.
Brady Background Checks would then be required on all handgun purchases from federally licensed firearm dealers. Since its enactment in 1994, the Brady Background Check System has blocked approximately 4 million prohibited purchasers from obtaining a firearm. The signing of the Brady Bill was only the beginning. Sarah continued to advocate for common-sense gun laws at the state and federal level throughout the rest of her life.
Since 2017 Kris Brown has led Brady shaping the conversation on gun violence as a public health crisis, launched the organization’s groundbreaking safe storage program End Family Fire, steered Brady's efforts to engage Black and Brown communities most impacted by gun homicide, and oversaw the formation of Team ENOUGH — Brady’s youth-led initiative founded after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, FL.
Today, led by Kris Brown, who saw Jim and Sarah’s bipartisan impact on Capitol Hill firsthand, Brady continues to uphold the Bradys' legacy by uniting people from coast to coast, progressives and conservatives of every race, ethnicity, and identity, to combat the epidemic of gun violence. In Congress, courts, and communities across the country, Brady can be counted on to lead the fight for a safer country for all of us. Brady has always been more than a name, it’s a passion for change.