Drizzt
Member
Jim and Sarah Brady 'Personally Offended' by Gun Lobby Efforts to Falsify Reagan Record
6/17/2004 11:04:00 AM
To: National Desk
Contact: Peter Hamm of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, 202-898-0792
WASHINGTON, June 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- James Brady, President Reagan's press secretary, and his wife, Sarah, longtime advocates for sensible gun laws, sent a letter to members of Congress today to set the record straight about statements issued by the National Rifle Association that are highly misleading about the policy record of former President Reagan.
In an attempt to hide President Reagan's support for the Assault Weapons Ban, the NRA launched an attack on Jim and Sarah Brady and NBC Today Show anchor Katie Couric, after they appeared in a televised interview with Couric.
During the Today Show interview last week, Couric asked the Bradys about President Reagan's position on high-profile gun legislation. Sarah Brady said President Reagan supported both the Brady Law and the Assault Weapons Ban. The Assault Weapons Ban is set to expire September 13 unless President Bush and Congress act to save it.
Within hours, the NRA issued an "alert" to its members, denying President Reagan supported the Assault Weapons Ban and accusing the Bradys of trying to "shamelessly forward the gun-ban agenda with deliberate misinformation." The NRA said the "misinformation" was "led by carefully crafted questions from Couric." (See the alert at http://www.nraila.org.)
The text of the Bradys' letter to Congress follows.
---
June 17, 2004
(Individual Greeting to Members, Senators)
A little over a week ago, our country lost a great leader, and we lost a great friend. President Reagan was someone with whom we shared a deep personal friendship. His generosity to both of us was remarkable.
In the days after his passing, we spoke about our respect and love for President Reagan, and his support for both the Brady Law and the Assault Weapons Ban. President Reagan publicly endorsed the Brady Law in 1991, and supported it through to its 1993 passage. As a Governor, he had established background checks and waiting periods for firearms purchases.
He was an equally strong proponent of the Assault Weapons Ban when it advanced in Congress in 1994. In a letter he signed with former Presidents Ford and Carter, President Reagan wrote "while we recognize that assault weapon legislation will not stop all assault weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals. We urge you to listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of these weapons."
When Congress debated the legislation, President Reagan placed numerous telephone calls to undecided members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging them to support the ban.
In September, the Assault Weapons Ban will expire unless President Bush and Congress act to save it. The American people overwhelmingly support the law, and it has led to a real reduction in assault weapons linked to crimes. The National Rifle Association is doing everything in its power to ensure that the law is not reauthorized. Last week, in fact, NRA leaders alleged that President Reagan never supported the assault weapons ban. That is totally untrue, and the public record proves it.
We have spent many years advocating for more reasonable gun safety laws, and have always advocated with total honesty. Our reputation as honest advocates is very important to us, and we are personally offended by the NRA's untruths about what is historical fact. President Reagan was a man who meant what he said, and he said, repeatedly, that he supported the Assault Weapons Ban. President Bush and Congress should dismiss the NRA's attempt at revisionist history, and they should reauthorize the law without further delay.
Sincerely, James and Sarah Brady
http://www.usnewswire.com/
6/17/2004 11:04:00 AM
To: National Desk
Contact: Peter Hamm of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, 202-898-0792
WASHINGTON, June 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- James Brady, President Reagan's press secretary, and his wife, Sarah, longtime advocates for sensible gun laws, sent a letter to members of Congress today to set the record straight about statements issued by the National Rifle Association that are highly misleading about the policy record of former President Reagan.
In an attempt to hide President Reagan's support for the Assault Weapons Ban, the NRA launched an attack on Jim and Sarah Brady and NBC Today Show anchor Katie Couric, after they appeared in a televised interview with Couric.
During the Today Show interview last week, Couric asked the Bradys about President Reagan's position on high-profile gun legislation. Sarah Brady said President Reagan supported both the Brady Law and the Assault Weapons Ban. The Assault Weapons Ban is set to expire September 13 unless President Bush and Congress act to save it.
Within hours, the NRA issued an "alert" to its members, denying President Reagan supported the Assault Weapons Ban and accusing the Bradys of trying to "shamelessly forward the gun-ban agenda with deliberate misinformation." The NRA said the "misinformation" was "led by carefully crafted questions from Couric." (See the alert at http://www.nraila.org.)
The text of the Bradys' letter to Congress follows.
---
June 17, 2004
(Individual Greeting to Members, Senators)
A little over a week ago, our country lost a great leader, and we lost a great friend. President Reagan was someone with whom we shared a deep personal friendship. His generosity to both of us was remarkable.
In the days after his passing, we spoke about our respect and love for President Reagan, and his support for both the Brady Law and the Assault Weapons Ban. President Reagan publicly endorsed the Brady Law in 1991, and supported it through to its 1993 passage. As a Governor, he had established background checks and waiting periods for firearms purchases.
He was an equally strong proponent of the Assault Weapons Ban when it advanced in Congress in 1994. In a letter he signed with former Presidents Ford and Carter, President Reagan wrote "while we recognize that assault weapon legislation will not stop all assault weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals. We urge you to listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of these weapons."
When Congress debated the legislation, President Reagan placed numerous telephone calls to undecided members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging them to support the ban.
In September, the Assault Weapons Ban will expire unless President Bush and Congress act to save it. The American people overwhelmingly support the law, and it has led to a real reduction in assault weapons linked to crimes. The National Rifle Association is doing everything in its power to ensure that the law is not reauthorized. Last week, in fact, NRA leaders alleged that President Reagan never supported the assault weapons ban. That is totally untrue, and the public record proves it.
We have spent many years advocating for more reasonable gun safety laws, and have always advocated with total honesty. Our reputation as honest advocates is very important to us, and we are personally offended by the NRA's untruths about what is historical fact. President Reagan was a man who meant what he said, and he said, repeatedly, that he supported the Assault Weapons Ban. President Bush and Congress should dismiss the NRA's attempt at revisionist history, and they should reauthorize the law without further delay.
Sincerely, James and Sarah Brady
http://www.usnewswire.com/
Bwahahahahahaha! Now THAT'S rich!
:banghead: ( I HATE it when that happens 
)