Brady Attends White House “United We Stand” Summit; Welcomes Initiative to Combat Hate-Fueled Violence

Washington, D.C., September 15, 2022 – Brady, one of the nation’s oldest and boldest gun-violence-prevention groups, applauds the White House’s “United We Stand” initiative as a critical conversation for Americans to come together in the face of hate-fueled violence in the United States and work together to prevent future tragedies before they occur.

Brady Vice President of Policy Christian Heyne will be among those in attendance at the event. Gun violence prevention advocates and survivors have long been working to address the use of firearms in hate crimes and domestic extremism, and Brady urges leaders to include solutions to disarm hate as part of this important national conversation.

Christian Heyne shared:

“At this time of increased hate-fueled and often racist political violence, we applaud President Biden and Vice President Harris for reminding us that what unites us as Americans is greater than what divides us – and that violence has no place in a functioning democracy.

While hate and extremism exist in other peer countries throughout the world, America’s unfettered access to firearms and weapons of war sets us apart in how exponentially more lethal that hatred becomes. We’ve seen the results in places like Buffalo, El Paso, Orlando, and countless other communities across the country. Easy access to firearms makes hate lethal. When we cannot go to the grocery store, church, or school without fearing for our safety, it is clear that our way of life is at risk. And when we witness a violent attack on our nation’s Capitol, we must address the underlying forces that drove such violence in order to prevent its recurrence.

While we can’t legislate people’s hearts, we can create a culture of unity and address the Second Amendment extremism that is antithetical to our democracy and domestic tranquility. The combination of increasingly violent rhetoric in the name of gun rights and surging gun sales stoked by fear, should be a top priority, as evidence shows firearms are domestic extremists’ weapon of choice.

At Brady, our mission is to unite all Americans against gun violence. We recognize that hate-fueled violence impacts communities in many ways, and that solutions must be multi-faceted. We also know that the American people are on our side and overwhelmingly support solutions to stop such violence. Together, we can find common ground in common sense. Brady looks forward to taking part in this important discussion.”