Just a quick note to tell you that you are not the only one who is outraged that terrorist, criminals, and those who are mintally ill can openly buy weapons - including high-powered assault weapons -at gun shows. I am too!
So may I tell you a quick story? As you may know, my husband Jim was badly injured and almost killed in the assassination attempt on President Reagan in 1981. Not long after Jim was wounded, my son was in a relative's pickup truck and he found what he believed was a toy gun and played with it.
But, in fact, it was not a toy. It was a real gun. I was terrified, and later that night, even though it was about 10 PM, I picked up the telephone and dialed the National Rifle Associatoin and said, "This is Sarah Brady and I want you to know that I will be making it my life's work to put you out of business!"
I was probably only talking ot a night janitor, but I felt like I was going to explode if I didn't put hte NRA on recored that it did not represent the vast majority of Americans.
And since then, Jim and I have mad it our life's work to put the gun lobby out of business - an dpass and protect sensible gun laws.
We've made real progess - but still, this damnable gun show loophole remains, as does the fact that more than 80 Americans die from gun violence every day!
Even though we were hugely successfful on Election Night 2008, the battle still rages. The American public decisevily told their elected officioals on both national and local levels that they do not want strong gun laws, which means that clsoing the gun show loophole, enacting a strong and comprehensive assault weapons ban, and curbing the large-volume sales that feed gun trafficking.
As Jim says, we don't want what happened to us to happen to anyone else.
It would be a distinct pleasure to wealcome you as a supporting friend of the Brady Campaing to Prevent Gun Violence. I thank you!
Sarah Brady
Chair
PS: Here are 11 Terrifying Reasons to Close the Gun Show Loophole:
1) Mac-10 automatic pistol = $795
2)10% of the guns used in crimes by children were sold at gun shows.
3) Handgun =$595.00
4) Buy a gun...no questions asked!
5) Cop killer bullets = $13.00
6) "I would not have bough a gun for Eric and Dylan if I had had to give any personal information or submit to any type of check at all" - Robyn Anderson who bought the Columbine killers their guns at a gun show.
7)25-50% of the vendors at most gunshows are unlicended dealers.
8) Semi-auto and automatic weapons guides = $7.97
9) No backgorund check required by unlicensed dealers.
10) AK 47 conversion parts = $4.99
11) Assault weapons are back on the streets, and you can get one at your local gun show with no questions asked!
However, your efforts are still born out of anger for the position you now find your self in. An irrational anger. I am not trying to insult, truly, but from my perspective that is the way it looks.
Your top ten reasons for not liking guns are factually incorrect and only approach the issue from the point you are selling.
Do you honestly believe a human should not have the right to protect themselves. That is giving up on a human right that we all demand, LIFE. How do justify disarming another human being in this dangerous world and say “Just take it”, for the greater good I suppose.
You may be comfortable never seeing a gun and in some ways I don't blame you. But for anyone who commits violence against another they expect an even stronger response as a defense to one’s very valued and only life they have.
I am not.
I don't expect the police to stop violence against me in the 3 to 60 minutes it takes them to respond. Not knocking the police but that is just way things work. They do what they can, as fast as they can and with as much excellence possible.
But maybe I won't have access to the phone so I can wait for someone to answer or receive a busy signal. Are you aware that if you use a cell phone in Northern California the calls are sent to a CHP call center and at rush hour you can wait an hour for the call to be answered?
Could you or would you, seriously put you or a loved at risk because you want to wait for the police?
You will be dead or seriously injured. Period.
The police do not live with you and can't prevent violence against you or your family.
The decision of preservation of your life is a personal responsibility. If you choose to forfeit your life because of a personal belief, fine.
But I do not forfeit my life. Heck, I like it and this world and will fight to defend myself, only.
Do you see my point of view?
I want never to have violence visited upon me but rest assured I will readily and unflinchingly defend myself if there are no other alternatives.
Sarah married Jim AFTER he was confined to a wheelchair, and has been using him ever since.
if you want to buy a handgun - or a weapon powerful enough to down a commercial airline...
But seriously, he didn’t write this letter. It was written by a professional fundraising hack who probably gets paid a share of the loot it brings in.
How does one bring down an entire airline, anyway? What weapon did Carl Icahn use?
“you can even buy an American-made AK-47 or Uzi-style killing machine”
And that is why I say, “Enough is enough...NO back ground check, NO gun, NO excuses!”
OK? You’re not putting together a confiscation database, are you? Huh? Jim?
Way past time to to move on to Stage Three, Bucko!
Here is an interesting note. Just before Jim was shot, Handgun Control Inc (HCI), now the Brady Campaign, released a statement saying they ONLY wanted to control handguns. Long guns wiould not be affected.
America was awash with”assault rifles” but HCI saw no problem with them....until they saw a chance to frighten people and ban them!
Please, point me in the right direction...my wife's birthday is coming up, and she's wanted one for a long time. At that price, I'll get one for me, too.
Wiki: MAC-10 machine pistols are NFA articles, and probably the least expensive (relative; Approximate cost as of Q1 2009 is $3,600 US +/-)[6] automatic weapons on the American market.