Nov 24, 2009
Washington, DC - Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, today applauded a bill to be jointly introduced by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) that would give Federal law enforcement officials critical tools needed to crack down on illegal guns and illegal gun trafficking:
"The Brady Campaign appreciates all the work that Senator Gillibrand and Representative McCarthy have done to draft this important legislation. It will give law enforcement important new tools needed to break the backs of the gun trafficking organizations that use our weak Federal gun laws to enrich themselves at the expense of great pain to innocent gun violence victims. It will also give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) important tools to crack down on gun dealers who arm criminals with deadly weapons.
"This important legislation would help stop the gun violence plaguing our communities by cutting off the supply of illegal guns that arm violent criminals. We hope this bill will be able to move expeditiously through the legislative process and get signed into law within the next 12 months. Easy access to firearms by dangerous people is costing too many people the ultimate price."
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The Brady Campaign is the nation's largest citizens' lobby to prevent gun violence. We represent the voice of the overwhelming majority of Americans who are tired of living with the constant tragedy of gun violence and are in favor of strong laws and policies that will save lives. We are the light that exposes politicians who are putting the American people at risk, empowering the American people to hold them accountable for decisions and actions that undermine public safety.
We are driven by the focused vision of a nation where all Americans are safe at home, at work, at school, and in our communities.
Dan Gross is the President of the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. A photo and more information about Dan Gross is available here.
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