- About Us
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- Christian Heyne
Christian Heyne
GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVOR & CHIEF PROGRAMS AND POLICY OFFICER
T. Christian Heyne is the Chief Programs and Policy Officer at Brady, one of the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organizations, where he leads all legislative and programmatic efforts at the federal and state levels. Prior to assuming this position, Christian served as the legislative director at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CGSV).
Changing the Culture: Brady's Movement for Responsible Gun Ownership
Christian Heyne on the Bipartisan Senate Gun Legislation
VP of Policy at The Brady Campaign: The trauma of gun violence is ongoing, generational
Biden makes impassioned plea for gun reform in the U.S.
The Filibuster is Killing Us
Advocates push for more gun reform in the U.S.
VP of Policy at The Brady Campaign: The trauma of gun violence is ongoing, generational
Throughout his career, Christian has worked to build consensus both at the state level and in Congress to end the epidemic of gun violence in America.
Christian has successfully developed, lobbied, and assisted with the implementation of a variety of local, state, and federal policies. Among legislative accomplishments, Christian worked with legislatures in 17 states across the country to help develop, introduce, pass, and implement extreme risk laws, which allow families and law enforcement to work with courts to temporarily separate individuals at an increased risk of violent behavior from firearms. At Brady, he has helped oversee and grow the Combating Crime Guns Initiative, working on non-legislative solutions to stem the flow of illegal guns into vulnerable communities by holding irresponsible and negligent actors of the gun industry responsible for behavior that contributes to gun violence.
Christian prioritizes strong relationships across the political and ideological spectrum of the gun violence prevention movement and its partners, fostering collaboration with academics, researchers, policymakers, activists, implementers, and more. Brady is proud to be survivor-founded and -led, and Christian strives to ensure not only that survivors’ voices are genuinely heard and reflected in each stage of Brady’s work, but also that survivors are leaders at the forefront of the broader movement.
Christian began advocating for stronger gun laws after a man with a history of violence shot his parents on Memorial Day 2005. His father survived multiple gunshots, but his mother was killed. In the wake of this tragedy, Christian and his Dad started a Brady chapter in Ventura County, and, shortly thereafter, a collegiate chapter for Brady at California State University, Chico.
Christian is originally from Thousand Oaks, California. After receiving a Legal Studies degree and a Paralegal Certificate from California State University, Chico, Christian moved to Washington, D.C., where he currently resides.
OUR TEAM
We’re Led by Gun Violence Survivors
We are unique in the movement in that we are survivor-founded and survivor-led. Our leaders and team members who are gun violence survivors deeply understand the solutions that will save lives. We fight because we want to do everything in our power to make sure that no other family suffers the pain and loss of losing a loved one to gun violence.
Each time you choose to engage with Brady, you’re furthering our lifesaving mission.
