Brady Hails 2020 Candidates for Campaigning to End Gun Violence in America

Washington, D.C., May 7, 2019 — This week, Sen. Cory Booker released the most ambitious and comprehensive gun violence prevention plan ever proposed by a presidential candidate, joining Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Gov. John Hickenlooper, and others in treating gun safety as the top-tier issue it is. Brady praised Sen. Booker for his bold stance, noting that the depth and breadth of the proposal show how serious he is about the issue.

Brady president Kris Brown stated,

"The scope and thoughtfulness of this plan shows not only how important ending gun violence is to the American public, but to Sen. Booker personally. As critical as it is to expand Brady background checks on gun sales and to ban assault weapons, it's just as crucial to fund research into gun violence and address crime guns at the source, and we're heartened to see that Sen. Booker is directly taking on those issues. This is an ambitious, comprehensive plan that recognizes that gun violence is a multi-faceted problem that requires a multi-faceted approach.

“Sen. Booker, along with Sen. Harris, Sen. Klobuchar, Rep. Swalwell, Mayor Buttigieg, and every candidate who has made this a top priority should be applauded. We look forward to working with all candidates to form an agenda confronting gun violence just as we would other public health epidemics, with research and solutions that will reduce the staggering death and injury it causes. This is a top tier issue for voters across the country and across party lines, and we’re thrilled that it’s been treated as such.”

Sen. Booker’s plan, unveiled this week on Medium, calls for a number of policies supported by Brady, including repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA); expanding background checks to private sales and closing the “Charleston Loophole;” closing the “Boyfriend Loophole” and preventing abusive current or former dating partners from obtaining guns; banning assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and bump stocks; and strengthening efforts to combat crime guns by modernizing and strengthening the ATF.

The announcement comes just weeks after Sen. Kamala Harris announced a series of executive actions she would take should Congress not take action to prevent gun violence during her first 100 days in office, including expanded background checks and stringent regulation of gun manufacturers.

Gun violence prevention is already shaping up to be a top issue in 2020, with a recent CNN poll showing it as a top three issue for potential Democratic voters. Declared candidates from across the spectrum are prioritizing it as such, including but not limited to:

• Rep. Eric Swalwell, who is publicly making gun safety the centerpiece of his campaign;
• Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who evolved from her previous positions to support gun safety efforts and argues that other Americans can, have, and will do the same;
• Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who spoke out on common-sense solutions, noting that they wouldn’t “hurt [her] Uncle Dick in the deer stand;” and
• Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who drew from his experience in Afghanistan to highlight the importance of banning assault weapons in America.

Brady has long prioritized a comprehensive approach to preventing the epidemic of gun violence, a strategy now being adopted by a growing number of elected officials and candidates. As they did in 2018, the organization will continue to consult with all electoral candidates in an effort to deliver a federal government committed to implementing policies to end gun violence in America.