Brady Investigates How Man Who Killed 26 in Texas Church Was Able to Purchase Firearms Given History of Violence and Conviction on Domestic Assault Charges

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two of the five deadliest mass shootings in American history occurred in the last 35 days. Three of them occurred in the last 17 months. In response to Sunday's shooting, the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence has begun to review, research and investigate how the Texas shooter was able to obtain his guns in light of his legal history. "This cannot be our new normal," said Brady Campaign Co-President Kris Brown who continued, "It is simply too easy for dangerous people to buy guns, and strengthening our background check system is a critical step in will stopping them. All Americans should be asking our leaders, how is it that a man who was court-martialed for domestic abuse and later discharged from the military able to purchase these guns?"

In response to President Donald Trump's statement that, "this isn't a guns situation," Brown said, "This is about guns and the failure of this administration to protect us. We have not invested in basic protections to close gaps in our background check system that allow dangerous people ready access to guns.  Instead, this administration has spent its time systematically weakening the system. The reason America's gun homicide rate is 25 times that of similar countries is because we have a gun problem. Now is the time to address it, and we know how—expand and enhance reporting in our nation's background check system."

"Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, friends and to the entire community of Sutherland Springs, TX," said Brady Co-President Avery Gardiner. "Sutherland Springs joins communities like Las Vegas, Newtown, Orlando, Charleston, and so many others across this country who have been torn apart by gun violence. We don't know all the details about how this killer got his guns, but we know that in Texas he could have gone to a gun show or online and bought all the guns he wanted without a background check. We need comprehensive Brady background checks so dangerous people can't buy guns, no questions asked. Now is the time for us all to stand up, hold our elected officials accountable and demand changes to ensure dangerous people do not have ready access to guns."

The mission of the Brady organization and its Million Mom March is to create a safer America by cutting gun deaths in half by 2025. For more insight on gun violence prevention, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BradyBuzz.

About Us: The Brady Campaign and Center, united with the Million Mom March, is a national network of over 90 grassroots chapter affiliates mobilized to prevent gun violence at the community level. The network has played a vital role in expanding Brady background checks in the six states that have passed legislation since the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and produced the largest national protest of gun violence in U.S. history - The Million Mom March, Mother's Day 2000.

SOURCE The Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence

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