For some more reaction now to this mass shooting and the repeated
tragedies like this that occur nationally, I'm joined by Chris Brown.
She's the president of Brady, the advocacy campaign that has focused
on gun laws. Gun violence, background checks.
And more. Chris Brown. Thank you very much for being here again.
I know you have been working on this type of an issue for years now,
but I wonder before we talk about
Possible legislative solutions. Could you just reflect on
As president, Biden said today we seem to be the only industrialized
nation on Earth where these types of tragedies continually occur.
Can you reflect on this day for us in the in the scope of our history
with gun violence.
Yes. I mean, I agree with the president. And, um those are just facts.
Of course we're looking at 50% Spike.
This year and active shooter situations over last year. Ah 2020,
which is the last data that we have was among the most deadly
In American history, going back 25 years and none of this by the
way, and I think of this as the head of radio, obviously.
Is a south or
Um any possible you know, positive news for any of us, but least
of which are the people who are families today.
Two are not having their Children come home and to me as a mom and
as a American citizen. I find this unconscionable because gun violence
can be solved.
It's just that basic
What this is, is a public health epidemic.
And you know, in the fifties, when we had automobile fatalities,
we didn't ask the question. What is the one thing that we can do
to solve this? It was all of the things we can do, and I would call
upon
All of us to really think about those things because it is Children
dying. Today it was Children dying in sandy hook and countless other
situations.
But last week it was black Americans targeted grocery shopping before
that it was people in synagogues before that it was people walking
to a concert.
When is enough is the question we all have to ask. And I don't understand
Fundamentally why we don't have a body politics, especially the Senate
who just says Okay, it is enough.
And let's just do something simple. Let's start here expand Brady
background checks. They've stopped four million sales of guns to
individuals who shouldn't have them.
Can we not start there and that could be passed tomorrow. It's sitting
in the Senate.
And that's
To me democracy. It's also doing something to recognize that this
is a uniquely American problem. It doesn't have to be this way.
I mean, as I'm sure you are aware we've already seen
Senators like Joe Manchin say that they don't support reforming the
filibuster to pass new gun control laws. Senator Mitch McConnell,
the leader of the Republican Party, saying he doesn't see that this
is the right time for that.
You've also been through many of these campaigns after Newtown and
Sandy Hook, where we all as a nation thought legislation would something
that would be done.
Failed to occur. Do you have any hope?
That this time will in fact be different.
I'm not sure it will. But I will say one thing.
Um
I'm an able bodied citizen of the United States of America.
And I care. I have two daughters. I have neighbors. I could not live
with myself if I had a bill to expand a law that 90% of American
support
Like expanded Brady background checks, which stands Let me be clear
for the crazy proposition.
That individuals who are seeking to buy a firearm.
Actually are subject to background checks. Why is that important?
Because we have certain prohibited purchasing categories. Convicted
felons can convicted domestic abusers. We want to ensure that those
people don't easily access guns.
If I were a member of the United States Senate like my neighbors,
like everyone that I could walk down the street and talk to you,
they would say Yes, I would stand for that.
But I think most Americans don't understand is
Why is a bill like that to expand Brady background checks to states
that have not yet put that in place?
Not coming to the floor of the Senate, and there is no good answer.
I think if you saw, Chris Murphy said earlier, and I know that you
all covered this extensively, he said.
Let's bring that bill to the floor. I agree. I think the Democratic
leadership should bring that to the floor. And the question is not
to be perfectly honest.
Will that come to the floor and have a vote that was stands the filibuster.
The question is can be brought to the floor and if it does not withstand
the filibuster, we have to end the filibuster because the filibuster
is killing us priority one.
Is to bring that vote to the floor. And if it fails priority to is
to end the filibuster, and if we want to stop gun violence, those
are the top two priorities or the next mass shooting is going to
occur.
Chris Brown of the Brady campaign. Thank you very much for joining
us on this again another horrendous day.
Thank you.
Mm