Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

State and Federal Legislation

The Brady Campaign works at the Federal, State and local level to enact sensible gun laws. We have divided this area up between federal and state legislation. Click here for state legislation.

Federal Legislation: Key Issues

New Federal Legislation Would Give Law Enforcement An Innovative New Tool to Help Solve Crimes >HOT!<

Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Congressman Xavier Bacerra have introduced legislation that would help law enforcement solve firearm crimes.

The National Crime Gun Identification Act of 2008 would require that all semiautomatic pistols be equipped with microstamped identifiers. That means when a gun is fired, its serial number is stamped on the cartridge. Microstamping takes ballistics identification to a new level of reliability and effectiveness.

Last year, similar ground-breaking legislation was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California. It received the support of 65 police chiefs and sheriffs throughout the state, as well as the California Police Chiefs Association, the Orange County Chiefs' and Sheriff's Association, the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), and the Los Angeles Police Protective League.

Brady Background Checks at Gun Shows >HOT!<

Senators Frank Lautenberg and Jack Reed introduced legislation that would strengthen the Brady criminal background check system by closing the gun show loophole.

The Brady Law requires criminal background checks of gun buyers at licensed dealers, but there is a loophole at gun shows. Convicted felons, domestic violence abusers, and those who are dangerously mentally ill can walk into any gun show and buy weapons from unlicensed sellers without being stopped, no questions asked.

Several families of the Virginia Tech massacre and Brady Campaign President, Paul Helmke, joined the Senators on Capitol Hill and urged Congress to pass this important bill that would help keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people.

Closing the Terror Gap: Denying Firearms and Explosives to Terrorists >HOT!<

The Brady Campaign is working to close a dangerous gap in current law. Currently, federal authorities can't stop sales of guns - including military-style assault weapons - by dealers to known or suspected terrorists. This Terror Gap threatens our nation's safety.

Congress must pass the Terror Gap bill to stop known or suspected terrorists from buying guns.

Click here to find out more

More Guns in National Parks Put Visitors at Risk >HOT!<

A proposal facing action by the U.S. Senate would force National Park and National Wildlife Refuge managers to allow more loaded, hidden handguns in national parks and wildlife refuges, endangering the public as well as wildlife.

"This is more of the same from the gun pushers - any gun, anywhere, at any time," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "Why are we putting hikers, campers and families at risk by introducing loaded, hidden handguns into our national parks and refuges? This proposal is a bad idea that the Senate should reject."

The Brady Campaign Works to Strengthen the Brady Background Check System

The President signed the National Instant Check System (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act of 2007. This is the first major piece of national legislation to be passed to reduce gun violence in more than a decade.

The passage of this bill was in response to the April 16th, 2007 Virginia Tech massacre. The Virginia Tech killer was able to arm himself because the court order that should have blocked his gun purchase was not reported to the federal Brady background check system.

Last fall, family members and survivors of the Virginia Tech tragedy urged Congress to pass legislation that would help prevent people like the Virginia Tech killer from getting guns.

Repealing the Tiahrt Restrictions

U.S. House of Representatives continues restrictions that hurt law enforcement efforts to fight gun crime.

Click here for more details


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