Ahead of Nationwide Armed Protests, Brady Calls on State Legislatures to Prohibit Open and Concealed Carrying of Firearms in Legislative Buildings

Washington, D.C., January 12, 2021 - Following reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is monitoring and coordinating with “state, local, and federal law enforcement partners” ahead of planned, armed protests in all 50 state capitols across the country and in Washington, D.C., Brady calls on all state legislatures to take immediate steps to safeguard the proper functioning of government from armed intimidation and militarized threats.

Any such action must include the clear prohibition of open and concealed carrying of firearms at state capitol grounds, legislative buildings, and other state government properties.

Brady President Kris Brown shared:

“We must not allow armed individuals to terrorize and disrupt the functioning of our democracy. Bringing firearms to state capitols is designed to intimidate lawmakers and threatens the very foundation of our country, based on civil discourse and open, fair, violence-free debate. We have warned for years that dangerous, armed vigilantes and terrorist groups that falsely call themselves ‘militias’ threaten the peaceful functioning of our government and country. And we have recently seen armed protestors shut down the work of the Michigan legislature. Following the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week and in light of planned, armed protests across the country in the coming week, that threat has reached fever pitch.

States must act swiftly and decisively to decrease threats to the lives of lawmakers, their staff and the public. This includes prohibiting open and concealed carry in state legislature buildings and other state government properties.

You do not need a loaded gun to peacefully protest. Armed intimidation has no place in our democracy. We don’t have time to waste in removing the threat of gun violence from our democratic processes.”

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Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.


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