Under the leadership of President Kris Brown, Brady is one of America's oldest and boldest gun violence prevention groups, and our history of success goes back decades.

In 1974, Dr. Mark Borinsky founded the National Council to Control Handguns after being robbed and nearly murdered at gunpoint. The organization evolved in 1980 when it became Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI). It was just one year later when HCI's and the country's future changed forever.

Jim "the Bear" Brady had achieved a lifelong dream when he was named White House Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan. However, his service was cut short on March 30, 1981, during an assassination attempt against the president. In addition to President Reagan, Jim and two law enforcement officers were shot. Jim suffered a serious head wound that left him partially paralyzed for life. Although Jim never returned to his position after the shooting, he kept the title for the remainder of President Reagan's presidency.

Soon after the shooting, Jim's wife Sarah Brady, a respected political operative in her own right, began working with HCI. She was elected to the board in 1985, and became the Chair of the organization in 1989. Two years later, she became the Chair of HCI's sister organization, the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence.

At HCI, Sarah and Jim led the fight to pass federal legislation requiring background checks for all gun sales. Sarah and Jim spent years navigating the halls of Congress, meeting with legislators across party lines to generate enough votes to pass the "Brady Bill," a law they knew would save lives. Brady President Kris Brown was one of the many staffers on Capitol Hill working to pass the original version of the Brady Bill.

The original Brady legislation was introduced in 1988. It took six votes over seven years and three presidencies until Sarah, Jim, and their team were able to declare victory.

On November 30, 1993, after Sarah and Jim's seven-year battle, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill into law. Brady Background Checks would now be required on all handgun purchases from federally licensed firearm dealers.

In December 2000, the Boards of Trustees for Handgun Control and the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence voted to honor Jim and Sarah Brady?s hard work and commitment to gun control by renaming the two organizations the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

BRADY?S COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH

Expand background checks to all gun sales and transfers with very narrow exceptions
Expand the categories of persons prohibited from purchasing guns
Prevent access to assault weapons and high capacity magazines
Ban accessories like bumpstocks which enhance lethality
Outlaw the manufacture of ghost guns and 3-D printed guns
Provide grants to encourage passing extreme risk laws
Fully fund gun violence research at the CDC
Fund local community based programs to break the cycle of gun violence in urban areas
Promote safe storage and responsible gun ownership
Repeal PLCAA- The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act
Hold the ATF accountable for meaningful gun industry oversight
Eliminate Tiahrt, an ammendment that has been interpreted to shield the most negligent gun dealers from public scrutiny while also depriving the public of key data to help stem the flow of guns that are illegally obtained.