Two Responses to Mass Shootings

Safe storage during the holidays, victory in Minnesota, and more >>>

Friend,   I wish I didn't have to write this message.    Last weekend, thirteen years after a shooter killed 20 young children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School, two shootings rocked communities around the world. On Saturday, two students were killed and nine others were injured at Brown University as they studied for finals, and on Sunday at Bondi Beach in Australia during a Hanukkah celebration, 15 people were killed and dozens others were injured in a horrific antisemitic attack.    I want to say it was unthinkable. I want to say I can't believe this has happened. But the truth is, in America, we have seen this happen far too often.    There were students at Brown University who survived other mass shootings just years earlier. Mia Tretta, a member of our youth-led initiative, Team ENOUGH, was shot and injured at Saugus High School in 2019 only to relive a nightmare she should have never experienced in the first place. Another student, Zoe Weissman, was in her Brown dorm room when the shooting happened, and had also survived the 2018 shooting in Parkland, FL.   No one should have to survive one mass shooting, never mind two. Brown University has even been forced to create a new code for students to add to their transcripts if they weren't able to finish their finals because of a mass shooting.    In America, we are codifying school shootings. In Australia, they are taking action.    One day after the hate-fueled attack in Sydney, federal and state leaders agreed to tighten gun laws to help prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again — including laws to limit the number of firearms an individual can own — and they will host the biggest gun buyback in 30 years.   On the contrary, President Trump's response to the shooting at Brown University was, "Things can happen, so to the nine injured, get well fast."   It is utterly unthinkable that this is how our leaders in America respond to children being killed — especially as there have been over 390 mass shootings this year alone.   So today, we ask you to help us change this inaction. We ask you to join us in telling Congress that enough is ENOUGH. We ask you to take action and call on Congress to stop school shootings with more than just thoughts and prayers. TAKE ACTION >>> In solidarity,  Kris Brown Brady President   Safe Firearm Storage During the Holiday Season As we near the end of December, we also approach one of the deadliest weeks of unintentional shootings of the year. That's why today, we are drawing attention to the importance of secure firearm storage this holiday season.    The weeks of Christmas and New Year's Eve have among the highest rates of unintentional shootings of the entire year. We see this spike for a few reasons. People are in closer proximity to unsecured firearms while at home and visiting the homes of friends and family, and there is often an increase in alcohol consumption and firearm purchasing.    With 4.6 million children living in homes with unlocked and loaded firearms, the potential for tragedies like an unintentional shooting are high.   Storing firearms securely — locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition — significantly decreases the likelihood of these tragedies. If just 20% of households with firearms practiced safe storage, we could prevent one-third of annual youth gun suicides and unintentional shooting deaths.   So, celebrate this holiday season by making sure everyone is safe from unintentional shootings. Check out our tips for how to securely store firearms and how to talk to friends and family about secure firearm storage. LEARN MORE >>>   Progress in Minnesota This week, we thank Gov. Tim Walz for signing two executive orders aimed at preventing gun violence in Minnesota. The orders establish a Statewide Safety Council, expand public education on extreme risk laws — tools to temporarily remove firearms from a person in crisis — increase secure firearm storage awareness initiatives, and more.   "Gun violence has inflicted heartbreak and loss for families in Minnesota and across the country time and time again. Enough is enough."   — Governor Tim Walz   Gov. Walz also called on lawmakers in the state legislature to show courage and pass comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation, including a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault-style weapons. Minnesotans are demanding action.    These actions underscore the power of state and local action to protect communities from gun violence. Learn more about how you can get involved in your own community and demand that state officials take action to prevent gun violence. JOIN NOW >>>   11th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit   Last week, team Brady attended the Center for American Progress' (CAP) 11th annual Gun Violence Prevention Summit.  We were honored to speak on a number of different panels throughout the day, addressing the multiple aspects of the gun violence epidemic. Philip Bangle, senior litigation counsel at Brady, moderated a panel on gun industry accountability, Colleen Creighton, senior director of Brady's End Family Fire program, moderated a panel on the strategies to prevent firearm suicide, and Stephan Abrams, organizing manager of Team ENOUGH, spoke on a panel about youth advocacy.    It was a powerful event that brought together leaders in the gun violence prevention space to collaborate, strategize, and build momentum going into 2026. Learn more about the impact Brady is making and how we have fought to end the gun violence epidemic this year. LEARN MORE >>> Team ENOUGH Executive Council Member and Brown University Student Will Thomas Reflects on Brown University Shooting, CNN Newsroom   Gun Violence Prevention Groups Caution Securely Storing Firearms is Key to Having a Safe Holiday Season, WDET   Governor Newsom Unveils "Phoenix" Health Information Service as Alternative to Federal Health Advice; Brady United Advocate Discusses Gun Violence After Brown University Mass Shooting, KPFA   Let's Work Together to Reduce Gun Violence, Cape Gazette   Stockton Residents Call on Council to End Bickering, Fight Gun Violence After Mass Shooting, Record.net No One Should Have to Survive This Twice, Kris Brown's Substack SHARE ON BLUESKY >>>   Brady 840 First Street, NE Suite 400 Washington, DC 20002 United States   unsubscribe.   Thank you for supporting Brady and our work to prevent gun violence and save lives. We rely heavily on the generosity of activists like you to fund our work to create a safer America. If you're in this fight, please join Brady today by making a gift. DONATE >>>