1. BREAKING NEWS: One of America's Worst Gun Dealers Shut Down
2. VICTORY! New York City Wins Right to Use Crime Gun Trace Data
3. FIGHTING BACK! Brady Center Fights Gun Industry Efforts to Deny Victims Their Day in Court
4. FIGHTING BACK! New Report Exposes How the Gun Lobby and the Government Suppress the Truth About Guns and Crime

The Brady Center achieved a big victory in its representation of New York City in a lawsuit against the gun industry as federal Judge Jack Weinstein recently ruled that the Tiahrt Provision does not bar the City from using as evidence ATF crime gun trace data already in its possession. The Tiahrt Provision, sponsored by Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) and attached to a 2006 Congressional appropriations bill, prevents ATF from releasing crime gun trace data that shows the connection between gun dealers and the illegal market, and attempts to prevent data already released from being used in lawsuits.

Gun industry defendants have filed motions to dismiss lawsuits brought by victims, relying on the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act." Below are highlights of pending cases:

Thomas-Childs v. American Security, et al. charges Philadelphia gun dealer American Security and Sturm Ruger with negligently selling a gun to a "straw buyer" for a street gang. That gun was then used in the shooting of 10-year-old Faheem Thomas-Childs as he walked through the gates of his elementary school. Defendants' motion to dismiss the case were denied by the Philadelphia court.

Oliver v. Lou's Loans, et al. charges Lou's Loans of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania and Phoenix Arms with negligently selling guns to a gun trafficker, one of which was used in the fatal shooting of 14 year-old Anthony Oliver, Jr. Lou's Loans has been a frequent supplier of weapons to traffickers, straw purchasers, and even convicted felons. Defendants' motion to dismiss the case were denied by the Philadelphia court.

Williams v. Beemiller, Inc. et al. charges gun dealer Charlie Brown and gun manufacturer Phoenix Arms with negligently supplying gunrunner James Nigel Bostic and his straw purchasers at least 190 Saturday Night Special handguns, one of which was used by a gang member to shoot 16-year-old Daniel Williams while he was playing basketball at his Buffalo, New York home. Defendants lost in their effort to have the case moved to federal court.

In May, the Brady Center released Without A Trace -- the first in a series of groundbreaking new reports that are a part of the Brady Center's Gun Industry Watch, a program designed to expose the complicity of the gun industry in supplying the illegal market.

Specifically, Without A Trace focuses on how the gun lobby, working with the Bush Administration and its allies in Congress, has protected corrupt gun dealers by systematically blocking the release of information identifying the 1% of gun dealers who are responsible for selling more than 60% of the crime guns recovered in America. By suppressing the alarming truth about where crime guns come from, the gun lobby and the government have shielded a gun distribution system that funnels hundreds of thousands of guns into the illegal market year after year. Without A Trace shows how revealing the truth about guns and crime supports the need for tighter federal regulation of gun dealers and gun sales to curb the flow of guns into criminal hands. Go to www.bradycenter.org/withoutatrace.