Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
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Advocates Victims and Survivors
Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence: Strong Voices for Good

» Click here for gun violence victims resources

If you are a victim or survivor of gun violence, please see our list of resources so that you can get the appropriate help you need for your circumstances. If you are in immediate danger, please dial 911 or your local emergency number.

We have always recognized the importance of incorporating the authentic experiences of victims and survivors of firearm injury into the movement. The Brady staff is committed to working with victims of gun violence with respect for all individuals and their experiences and with keen awareness and acknowledgement of the pain of loss.

When you are ready, you can contact us to work closely with Brady staff to help stop future gun tragedies. If you would like, one of the first ways you may want to get involved is to create an online tribute to your loved one with your unique story. The voices of victims, their families and loved ones in the work to reduce the incidence of death and injury have a power like no other.

Your help could also include calling your elected officials to urge them to pass common sense gun laws. It could mean meeting with your legislators in your district to ask them to support gun laws. There are a variety of ways you can get involved to protect our families and communities.

» Click here to read other tributes or to create your own
» Click here to find out how to contact us
» Click here to read victim stories in a brochure funded by a grant from The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF).

 Loved ones Click here to create an online tribute to your loved one.

» BereavedParentsUSA.org
Bereaved Parents USA
An organization of family members of someone who has died, offering support, understanding, encouragement and hope to other bereaved family members, with chapters all over the nation.

» BradyCenter.org/LegalAction
Brady Center's Legal Action Project
The Legal Action Project brings cases on behalf of individual victims of gun violence, from lawsuits against the makers of assault weapons used in mass shootings, to actions against handgun makers whose unsafe designs allow children to die in unintentional shootings.

» NationalCops.org
Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS)
Concerns of Police Survivors provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. COPS provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.

» CompassionateFriends.org
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends supports bereaved families after the death of a child, with more than 600 chapters with locations in all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico.

» FightCrime.org
Fight Crime Invest in Kids
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is led by more than 4,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, other law enforcement leaders, and has a victim division of violence survivors dedicated to preventing crime and violence.

» GunVictims.org
Gun Violence Victims and Survivors
National network of victims and survivors of gun violence provided by the Brady Center. Every victim and survivor and family can easily make their own free Tributes Web Page where families can post and receive messages of support and exchange information.

» MADD.org
Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Victims Services
Mothers Against Drunk Driving has a victim/survivor helpline, as well as a victim services division with grief and emotional support, injury support, legal process, and financial recovery support.

» MurderVictimsFamilies.org
Murder Victims Families for Human Rights (MVFHR)
Murder Victims Families for Human Rights is an international non-profit organization of family members of victims of criminal murder, terrorist killings, state executions, extrajudicial assassinations, and “disappearances” working to oppose the death penalty from a human rights perspective.

» NCVC.org
National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC)
The mission of the National Center for Victims of Crime is to forge a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives dedicated to serving individuals, families, and communities harmed by crime.

» NCADV.org
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
NCADV works to eliminate both personal and societal violence against all women and children through coalitions, community-based support for battered women and their children, education, and prevention.

» TryNOVA.org
National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA)
NOVA is the national professional association of victim advocates and victim services professionals working to promote rights and services for victims of crime and crisis everywhere.

» NCPC.org
National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
Includes programs for keeping kids safe from crime, including McGruff the Crime Dog and his "kid safe browser" for the internet.

» VictimBar.org
National Crime Victims Bar Association
Provides technical support to attorneys representing crime victims in civil actions, refers crime victims to lawyers in their local area, and works to increase general awareness about the availability of civil remedies for victims of crime.

» NCVLI.org
National Crime Victims Law Institute (NCVLI)
An informational resource on victims rights.

» OVC.gov
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) - Federal Government's Justice Department
Provides extensive national list of resources for victims of crime, including National Crime Victims Rights Week every April.

» OVCttac.gov
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) - Technical Training and Assistance (TTAC)
Free training available for wide variety of victims needs, issues, and services.

» OVC.ncjrs.gov
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) - Directory of Victims Services
An overview of victim services nationwide.

» POMC.org
Parents of Murdered Children (POMC)
POMC's many chapters around the nation provide on-going emotional support needed to help parents and other survivors facilitate the reconstruction of a "new life" and to promote a healthy resolution. Not only does POMC help survivors deal with their acute grief but also helps with the criminal justice system.

» VictimLaw.org
National Center for Victims of Crimes - Victim Law
The definitive on-line legal resource from the National Center for Victims of Crimes; comprehensive and user-friendly database of every single aspect of victims rights and needs from around the nation. Search all cases and state, local and federal laws.

» WitnessJustice.org
Witness Justice
National victim advocacy organization based in Maryland whose mission is to empower and assist victims of violence and their loved ones in healing from trauma.


Kelly O'Brien Endorses Ban on Assault Clips

Kelly O'Brien, fiancée of the Congressional staffer who was killed in this year's shooting rampage in Tucson, AZ, was in Washington D.C. on April 12 to endorse the bills to ban large-capacity ammunition magazines.

In part, Kelly told those assembled:

"Gabe was a great man. There are many reasons I loved Gabe. He was smart, funny and outgoing. But what really drew me to him was that Gabe knew what was important in life. He spoke with his parents, Emily and Ross, daily. He had a younger brother he adored. He made sure to tell me he loved me every single day.

I do not own a gun, but I respect every American's constitutional right to have a gun. However, every right comes with responsibilities. Extended magazines are an easily accessible device troubled individuals use to commit mass murder. This is what happened on Jan. 8. That is how Gabe was killed.

Please support Rep. McCarthy and Sen. Lautenberg on banning these extended magazines, so that not one more community suffers such a devastating loss of life."

» Click here tell President Obama to ban assault clips
» Click here to read our news release
» Click here to learn more about high-capacity magazines


Kelly O'Brien had her life irreversibly changed by assault clips. She was engaged to marry Rep. Giffords' aide, Gabe Zimmerman, who was killed in the Tucson rampage.
A Voice for Good: Virginia Tech Victim Exposes Irresponsible Sellers at Gun Shows

Colin Goddard, a student who was shot four times at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, worked with the Brady Center and the Brady Campaign to record how easy it is to buy guns without a Brady criminal background check from many irresponsible unlicensed sellers.

Colin’s undercover footage of gun shows has sellers making statements such as “There’s no tax. There’s no paperwork. That’s worth something.” The buyers didn’t even have to show a driver’s license.

Colin’s goal is to educate Americans about the loophole in the Brady background check system that allows dangerous people to buy weapons at gun shows. He is encouraging people to urge Congress to close the loophole.

As part of the campaign, Colin sent an email to Brady supporters with a short video of his ordeal at Virginia Tech urging them to forward his video and sign a petition to Congress demanding that it close the gun show loophole.

Our national policy should be: no background check, no gun, no excuses.

» Click hereto view Colin's story
» Click here to become part of a dynamic network that takes action to protect families from gun violence


Guns for Cash [video]

Click here to view Colin Goddard’s undercover footage showing how guns can be easily purchased at gun shows without a background check.