Q. What is the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center's goal?
A. Our goal is to protect you, your family and your community from gun deaths and injuries. In America, we make it too easy for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons. There are only a few federal gun control laws on the books, and even those have loopholes. This leads to senseless gun violence affecting tens of thousands.
We should make it harder for convicted felons, the dangerously mentally ill, and others like them to get guns in the first place. We can do this by passing laws such as requiring Brady criminal background checks on all gun sales; banning military-style assault weapons; and strengthening law enforcement's efforts to stop the illegal gun market, like limiting the number of guns that can be bought at one time.
We can also do this by exposing corrupt gun dealers who feed the illegal gun market. Our Brady Center legal staff works to hold those dealers accountable in court and to protect common sense gun laws when they are attacked in court. We work to strengthen law enforcement's efforts to stop the illegal gun market. We also educate the public about gun violence through grassroots mobilization and outreach to affected communities.
Thousands upon thousands of people will continue to die and be injured needlessly each year without stronger, sensible gun laws. The Brady Campaign fights for sensible gun laws to protect you, your family and your community.
Q. Why Brady?
A. For 30 years, the image of President Ronald Reagan and Jim Brady being shot in Washington has remained etched in the public mind. Jim was shot and grievously injured, but, with his wife Sarah by his side, he courageously survived.
Not long after Jim was gunned down, Sarah was outraged all over again when her six-year-old son Scott found what he thought was a toy gun in a relative's pickup truck. In fact, it was not a toy. It was a fully-loaded handgun, just like the one used to shoot her husband. She and Jim knew the National Rifle Association bore heavy responsibility for the easy availability of guns like the one that seriously injured Jim and threatened their son's life. And they knew they had to fight back to keep the NRA from running roughshod over our nation 's gun laws. Ever since, Jim and Sarah Brady have led the organization and committed themselves to the fight to end gun violence.
Q. How is Brady connected to the Million Mom March Chapters?
A. In 2001, the Million Mom March Chapters merged with the Brady Campaign. What started as one of the largest marches on Washington is now a national network of 75 Chapters around the U.S. that work locally, yet stand together, in their fight against gun violence and the devastation it causes.
Q. Does Brady work with Law Enforcement?
A. Yes! We have worked closely with law enforcement allies for the past 25 years to reduce gun related injuries and deaths in America. Our Law Enforcement Relations (LER) Department works diligently with local, state and federal lawmakers to strengthen existing laws, close loopholes and pass new laws designed to reduce the number of illegal guns on our streets and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. When lethal new weapons come on the market, LER issues officer alerts and provide vital information police can use to educate the public and keep communities safer. LER works closely with law enforcement throughout the country, implementing programs to reduce gun violence in schools and communities.
Q. What is Brady doing right now to prevent gun violence?
A. Brady works to pass sensible gun laws at the federal and state level to protect you, your family and your community. We also defend current gun laws when threatened.
We should make it harder for convicted felons, the dangerously mentally ill, and others like them to get guns. We can do this by passing effective gun laws that make sense. Our prioirites are requiring Brady criminal background checks on all gun sales; banning military-style assault weapons; and strengthening law enforcement's efforts to stop the illegal gun market, like limiting the number of guns that can be bought at one time.
Q. Is Brady a "gun ban" organization?
A. No. Brady believes that a safer America can be achieved without banning guns.
We believe that law-abiding citizens should be able to buy and keep firearms. And we believe there are sensible gun laws that we can and should insist upon when it comes to gun ownership.
First and foremost, we should try to keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands, including criminals and children.
Second, there are certain classes of weapons that should be out of bounds for private ownership. They include Saturday-night specials, which are used almost exclusively for crime, military-style assault weapons like Uzis and AK-47s, and .50-caliber sniper rifles, which serve no ordinary sporting purpose.
Third, we believe that those who do own guns ought to be held to the highest standards of safety. They should be well trained in the use of their weapons and they should be required to keep weapons secure, so that neither innocent children nor prohibited persons can get a hold of them.
Q. Why is my financial support of Brady so important?
A. Thousands upon thousands of people will continue to die and be injured needlessly each year without stronger, sensible gun laws. Your support will be put to work to help pass common sense gun laws and save lives.
Q. Are donations to Brady tax-deductible?A. Donations to the Brady Center, which is a 501(c)3 educational organization, are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Commit to a safer America! Please consider a generous contribution to the Brady Campaign or Brady Center today.
Q. I'd like to review your most recent Annual Report.
A. Great! Thank you for your interest. Click here to see our Annual Report.
Welcome to the Brady Campaign and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence