James Brady, former Reagan press secretary, gun-control advocate, dies

[OzmO]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/04/politics/james-brady-dies/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

James Brady, former Reagan press secretary, gun-control advocate, dies

(CNN) -- James Brady, former press secretary to Ronald Reagan who was severely wounded in a 1981 assassination attempt on the President, has died, the White House said on Monday.
He was 73.
Following the shooting of Reagan in Washington that left Brady partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair, he became one of the nation's most prominent gun-control advocates.
Reagan's first press secretary, Brady was one of four people hurt when John Hinckley opened fire on Reagan as he left a hotel.
After leaving the White House, Brady launched the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, which pushes for stricter firearms laws.
He inspired the so-called Brady Bill, which was a fiercely fought over measure that requires background checks for gun purchases.
James Brady on gun control and mental illness
Remembering Reagan assassination attempt
The White House confirmed Brady's death and praised his legacy.
"He is somebody who I think really revolutionized this job and even after he was wounded in that attack on the president, was somebody who showed his patriotism and commitment to the country by being very outspoken on an issue that was important to him and that he felt very strongly about," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
The Brady Campaign acknowledged his death in a tweet: "We are heartbroken over James Brady's passing. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Sarah, and their family."

[RRKore]

Lived over 30 years after catching one in the head. 

[Purge_WTF]

I remember seeing his bio film on HBO as a kid. Made me weep.

R.I.P.

[JOHN MATRIX]

Sucks that he got shot, but he decided to dedicate the rest of his life to attacking everyday americans and their rights instead of actually going after the criminals and the crazies and actually trying to address the problem.....so fuck 'em.

[240 is Back]

Sucks that he got shot, but he decided to dedicate the rest of his life to attacking everyday americans and their rights instead of actually going after the criminals and the crazies and actually trying to address the problem.....so fuck 'em.

I prefer much tougher punishment for those who break EXISTING gun laws. 

A person can pull a gun in anger or fire a weapon, and he's back on the streets in a year.  unreal.  triple all violent crime sentences, you want a deterrant.  Making us law-abiders wait longer or limit mag size doesn't prevent crime.  Incarcerating proven violent felons does.

I'd love to see a guy have a heart attack from fast food and dedicate the next 30 years of his life to blocking people from drive-thru fast-food service with a variety of parking lot obstructions and other silly regulations.   The rampant pigging out is still present - but the parking lot is a mess now.

[Mawse]

Good riddance

[Straw Man]

Good riddance

Sucks that he got shot, but he decided to dedicate the rest of his life to attacking everyday americans and their rights instead of actually going after the criminals and the crazies and actually trying to address the problem.....so fuck 'em.

Yes, a minimum background check and possibly a short waiting period is such an inconvenience when I want to go on a shooting spree today

How could Brady and Reagan want to "attack" Americans like that

I can't believe this asshole thinks he has some right to talk about senseless gun violence just because some deranged freak shot in him the face.   Fuck, who does he think he is trying to express an opinion an influence legislation.  Fucking Communist.

Don't forget to save some of your hatred for comrade Reagan


http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/29/opinion/why-i-m-for-the-brady-bill.html

March 29, 1991
Why I'm for the Brady Bill

By Ronald Reagan; Ronald Reagan, in announcing support for the Brady bill yesterday, reminded his audience he is a member of the National Rifle Association.
LOS ANGELES—

"Anniversary" is a word we usually associate with happy events that we like to remember: birthdays, weddings, the first job. March 30, however, marks an anniversary I would just as soon forget, but cannot.

It was on that day 10 years ago that a deranged young man standing among reporters and photographers shot a policeman, a Secret Service agent, my press secretary and me on a Washington sidewalk.

I was lucky. The bullet that hit me bounced off a rib and lodged in my lung, an inch from my heart. It was a very close call. Twice they could not find my pulse. But the bullet's missing my heart, the skill of the doctors and nurses at George Washington University Hospital and the steadfast support of my wife, Nancy, saved my life.

Jim Brady, my press secretary, who was standing next to me, wasn't as lucky. A bullet entered the left side of his forehead, near his eye, and passed through the right side of his brain before it exited. The skills of the George Washington University medical team, plus his amazing determination and the grit and spirit of his wife, Sarah, pulled Jim through. His recovery has been remarkable, but he still lives with physical pain every day and must spend much of his time in a wheelchair.

Thomas Delahanty, a Washington police officer, took a bullet in his neck. It ricocheted off his spinal cord. Nerve damage to his left arm forced his retirement in November 1981.

Tim McCarthy, a Secret Service agent, was shot in the chest and suffered a lacerated liver. He recovered and returned to duty.

Still, four lives were changed forever, and all by a Saturday-night special -- a cheaply made .22 caliber pistol -- purchased in a Dallas pawnshop by a young man with a history of mental disturbance.

This nightmare might never have happened if legislation that is before Congress now -- the Brady bill -- had been law back in 1981.

Named for Jim Brady, this legislation would establish a national seven-day waiting period before a handgun purchaser could take delivery. It would allow local law enforcement officials to do background checks for criminal records or known histories of mental disturbances. Those with such records would be prohibited from buying the handguns.

While there has been a Federal law on the books for more than 20 years that prohibits the sale of firearms to felons, fugitives, drug addicts and the mentally ill, it has no enforcement mechanism and basically works on the honor system, with the purchaser filling out a statement that the gun dealer sticks in a drawer.

The Brady bill would require the handgun dealer to provide a copy of the prospective purchaser's sworn statement to local law enforcement authorities so that background checks could be made. Based upon the evidence in states that already have handgun purchase waiting periods, this bill -- on a nationwide scale -- can't help but stop thousands of illegal handgun purchases.

And, since many handguns are acquired in the heat of passion (to settle a quarrel, for example) or at times of depression brought on by potential suicide, the Brady bill would provide a cooling-off period that would certainly have the effect of reducing the number of handgun deaths.

Critics claim that "waiting period" legislation in the states that have it doesn't work, that criminals just go to nearby states that lack such laws to buy their weapons. True enough, and all the more reason to have a Federal law that fills the gaps. While the Brady bill would not apply to states that already have waiting periods of at least seven days or that already require background checks, it would automatically cover the states that don't. The effect would be a uniform standard across the country.

Even with the current gaps among states, those that have waiting periods report some success. California, which has a 15-day waiting period that I supported and signed into law while Governor, stopped nearly 1,800 prohibited handgun sales in 1989. New Jersey has had a permit-to-purchase system for more than two decades. During that time, according to the state police, more than 10,000 convicted felons have been caught trying to buy handguns.

Every year, an average of 9,200 Americans are murdered by handguns, according to Department of Justice statistics. This does not include suicides or the tens of thousands of robberies, rapes and assaults committed with handguns.

This level of violence must be stopped. Sarah and Jim Brady are working hard to do that, and I say more power to them. If the passage of the Brady bill were to result in a reduction of only 10 or 15 percent of those numbers (and it could be a good deal greater), it would be well worth making it the law of the land.

And there would be a lot fewer families facing anniversaries such as the Bradys, Delahantys, McCarthys and Reagans face every March 30.

[JOHN MATRIX]

Ive never lavished praise on reagan, not sure why you brought him into this.

And my point stands, everything the Brady campaign does targets and hassles ordinary gun owners, and does nothing to prevent crime. Their goal is the elimination of handgun ownership in america. Tens of millions of americans legally own them and do nothing wrong, but because of .001% of them do something, or if tons of gang bangers with illegally obtained ones do something, then they want to punish and shame the 99.9999% .

And you guys say the tea party are the radicals

[Straw Man]

Ive never lavished praise on reagan, not sure why you brought him into this.

And my point stands, everything the Brady campaign does targets and hassles ordinary gun owners, and does nothing to prevent crime. Their goal is the elimination of handgun ownership in america. Tens of millions of americans legally own them and do nothing wrong, but because of .001% of them do something, or if tons of gang bangers with illegally obtained ones do something, then they want to punish and shame the 99.9999% .

And you guys say the tea party are the radicals

I didn't say you lavished praise on him

I brought him into this because you said "fuck him" to Brady and Reagan fully supported the Brady bill so I thought you might want to give Reagan a "fuck him" as well

[JOHN MATRIX]

I didn't say you lavished praise on him

I brought him into this because you said "fuck him" to Brady and Reagan fully supported the Brady bill so I thought you might want to give Reagan a "fuck him" as well

Trying too hard...really

[Straw Man]

Trying too hard...really

you can always address the non-reagan stuff in my post like Brady's blatant "attack" on Americans for the concept of a background check or a short waiting period or how insane it is that a guy who was shot in the head thinking he has some insight on senseless gun violence or that as an American citizen he thinks he has the right to advocate for a cause and try to influence legislation in this country. 

Fuck Him 

[Mawse]

Trying too hard...really

Seriously. Brady would have been the ultimate beta chump if he intentionally took the bullet meant for a corrupt, warmongering, freedom hating politician.

But getting hit accidentally by a pistol and spending your life trying to take away assault rifles from your fellow citizens is just sad.

[Straw Man]

Seriously. Brady would have been the ultimate beta chump if he intentionally took the bullet meant for a corrupt, warmongering, freedom hating politician.

But getting hit accidentally by a pistol and spending your life trying to take away assault rifles from your fellow citizens is just sad.

Brady Bill was about background checks and waiting periods

The assault weapon bill was Feinstein

and yes it is so very sad when someone has to get a background check before they can buy a gun

I can't think of anything sadder except maybe getting shot in the head because some deranged loser thinks it's going to impress Jody Foster

[JOHN MATRIX]

There is nothing wrong with a basic background check performed by dealers/stores/vendors. No one really has an issue with that (UBC is a totally different story) But they went far beyond that. The stated goal of the Brady campaign and its leaders was the elimination of handgun ownership (and eventually all gun ownership) in america.

Thats how these radicals operate. They fundamentally disagree with gun ownership on the most basic ideological level, but they know they cant just come out and say that or they will be marginalized. So they just start with something innocent sounding and chip, chip, chip away from there. It truly is a slippery slope, as other countries' experiences have shown us...and gun owners know what these peoples' end goals are, and they know that once a particular right is taken away it never, ever comes back. That is why they take such strong stand with this stuff and hold the line because if they give an inch that ground will never be made up.

[240 is Back]

I'm shocked that Reagan supported the Brady Bill.   

I know he took liberal positions on amnesty and other things, and I know many here have justified it for one reason or another.

but this... he was 6 years out of office when the Brady Bill was signed.  There was ZERO benefit for him supporting such a trash liberal bill.   I'm shocked, makes zero sense. 

[Straw Man]

There is nothing wrong with a basic background check performed by dealers/stores/vendors. No one really has an issue with that (UBC is a totally different story) But they went far beyond that. The stated goal of the Brady campaign and its leaders was the elimination of handgun ownership (and eventually all gun ownership) in america.

Thats how these radicals operate. They fundamentally disagree with gun ownership on the most basic ideological level, but they know they cant just come out and say that or they will be marginalized. So they just start with something innocent sounding and chip, chip, chip away from there. It truly is a slippery slope, as other countries' experiences have shown us...and gun owners know what these peoples' end goals are, and they know that once a particular right is taken away it never, ever comes back. That is why they take such strong stand with this stuff and hold the line because if they give an inch that ground will never be made up.

I checked out the Brady Campaign at http://www.bradycampaign.org/  and I could not find what you described at their "stated goal" actually stated on the site.  I see sections about gun safety and responsible gun ownership, background checks (they claim 40% of gun sales to this very day are done so with a "Brady background check")

But I don't see where they state that their goal (they being The Brady Campaign) is the elimination of handgun ownership

Can you tell me where you got that information.  I assume it is officially stated somewhere since you called it their stated goal.  I assume I just missed it

[JOHN MATRIX]

Their name has 'evolved' over the years...when they started in the 1970's their name was Brady campaign Against Hangun Violence or something like that...then changed to Hangun Control...then 'evolved' again to something more pc, to whatever innocent sounding bullshit name they have now. Same thing with all  Bloomberg's groups, they constantly change names to sound pc and 'mainstream'.
And of course they arent going to state their extremist end goal on their website; but that is exactly what their long term goals are. Look at the ideologies  of the people in charge of these groups, and read some of the quotes they have let slip over the years. These people absolutely hate guns on the most fundamental level. To them guns are synonymous with crime. To them guns ARE crime.

[Mawse]

The "stated goal" of the patriot act wasn't prosecuting drug dealers or tax evaders either

Only the most media ignorant (or those in safe seats) statists state their intended goals

[Straw Man]

Their name has 'evolved' over the years...when they started in the 1970's their name was Brady campaign Against Hangun Violence or something like that...then changed to Hangun Control...then 'evolved' again to something more pc, to whatever innocent sounding bullshit name they have now. Same thing with all  Bloomberg's groups, they constantly change names to sound pc and 'mainstream'.
And of course they arent going to state their extremist end goal on their website; but that is exactly what their long term goals are. Look at the ideologies and of the people in charge of these groups, and read some of the quotes they have let slip over the years. These people absolutely hate guns on the most fundamental level. To them guns are synonymous with crime. To them guns ARE crime.

so when you wrote that "The stated goal of the Brady campaign and its leaders was the elimination of handgun ownership" you didn't mean to intend that it was actually "stated" anywhere and you have no proof other than your own paranoia

gotcha

[JOHN MATRIX]

Their leaders have said as much over the years. Look it up if you want.

[Straw Man]

Their leaders have said as much over the years. Look it up if you want.

I tried but couldn't find it which is why I asked you a few posts ago where you got that information

[LurkerNoMore]

Their leaders have said as much over the years. Look it up if you want.

Since you made the statement, how about you look it up and validate it?   

[JOHN MATRIX]

If you guys are suggesting one of the oldest and largest gun control groups and its leaders do not actually want gun control and are not deeply anti-gun, then the onus is on YOU to back that up.

[LurkerNoMore]

We didn't make the claim.  You claimed they stated it.  Surely you can find a link.   

[JOHN MATRIX]

Brady Campaign-founded in 1974 under name 'National Council to Control Hanguns'

1980 changed name to "Handgun Control, Inc"

2001 changed name yet again to "Brady Campaign to Prevent Handgun Violence"

Nelson Shields, chairman from 1978-1989, said...quote.."the first problem is to slow down the number of handguns being sold and produced in this country. The second is to get handguns registered. and the final problem is to make the possession of ALL handguns and ALL handgun ammunition-except for the military, police licensed security guards, licensed sporting clubs, and licensed gun collectors- totally illegal"

Shields estimate it would take ten years to "reach the goal of total control of handguns in the united states"


Theres a little bit for you idiots. Im sure theres plenty more but im not gonna dig it all up on my phone and even if i did, it wouldnt change your minds. Their ideology and goals are clear as day. But if you idiots want to read their 'official' pc puff rhetoric on their website and believe thats as far as it goes, thats fine.