Should someone who wants to buy a military-style assault weapon be required to undergo a criminal background check?

In America they don't have to.

In fact, felons, gangsters, wife-beaters, and the dangerously mentally ill can buy as many military-style assault weapons, semi-automatic pistols and other firearms as they can carry,...

The Brady Campaign's deepest sympathies go to the families who lost loved ones at Fort Hood, or are today visiting the wounded in the hospital. Along with the rest of the country, we wish the Fort Hood community a return to a secure and safe environment.

When I heard of...

Last week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law that requires handgun ammunition to be treated by retailers in much the same way that cigarettes, some cold medicines and even spray paint are treated.

As already shown in some California cities, this common sense measure will go a...

I want to thank Senator John Ensign of Nevada for speaking out about the importance of reducing gun violence as a means of addressing America's skyrocketing health care costs:

If you take out accidental deaths due to car accidents, and you take out gun deaths...

Gun violence prevention advocates, public health researchers and members of the media are the "usual suspects" pushing officials at different levels of government for information about firearms used in crime.

Unfortunately, these groups are frequently stymied by the Tiahrt restrictions, which place unnecessary limits on what...

Over the last five weeks I've had the opportunity to speak about gun violence in this country to audiences in Indianapolis (IN), Columbus (OH), and Martin (TN).

I've been pleased at how many people on all sides of the gun violence prevention issue appear willing to find some common...

As President Obama said this morning, America has lost a great leader.

In addition to his many other causes, Senator Edward Kennedy also understood the pain of gun violence, a tragedy that, sadly, he could share with hundreds of thousands of his fellow Americans.

He lost one...

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs answered questions yesterday about people bringing loaded firearms to protest events attended by President Obama, and Gibbs apparently gave the green light to this crazy practice.

Gibbs said, "There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally. Those laws...

What does the National Rifle Association think about carrying loaded guns to "town hall" meetings, including presidential events? Do they think this would make us all safer?

Does their silence signal their consent?

At "town hall" meetings featuring members of Congress, and even the President of the United States, Americans...

UPDATE (8/6): For the record, according to reporting by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the shooter who murdered three women and wounded nine others at a Pittsburgh-area fitness club held a permit from the State of Pennsylvania to carry concealed weapons.

Two weeks...

The National Rifle Association leadership suffered a major defeat in the U.S. Senate today, losing a key vote on a bill that would have radically weakened rules governing the concealed carrying of firearms around the country.

Gun violence prevention advocates across America worked day and night contacting their...

Senator John Thune of North Dakota has introduced an amendment (No. 1618) to the Department of Defense appropriations authorization bill (S. 1390) , which could come up for a vote as early as Monday, July 20.

This proposal would override state law by forcing every state (except Illinois...

During the second day of her Senate confirmation hearings, Judge Sotomayor has now been asked for her views on the Second Amendment. She has given clear and responsible answers, while not pre-judging any issues that may come before her on the Court. We have been impressed with her presentation.

Rep. Eliot Engel of New York recently held a hearing in his House Foreign Affairs subcommittee about the Government Accountability Office report on American guns being trafficked to criminals across our southern border into Mexico.

That hearing included an exchange between Ranking Member Connie Mack, Jr....

With confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor scheduled for next month, it is worth noting the gun lobby's disingenuous -- and surprisingly muted -- reaction to her nomination so far.

On the eve of those hearings, the National Rifle Association still has not decided whether to score Senate...

Please take a moment this weekend to read Bob Herbert's column published today in the New York Times.

His message is long overdue:

Even with the murders that have already occurred, Americans are not paying enough attention to the frightening connection between the right-wing hate-mongers who continue to...

Today we offer them our thoughts and prayers, but we also have to offer them our determination to do whatever it takes to eradicate this violence from our streets, from our schools, from our neighborhoods and our cities. That is our duty as Americans.

- Senator...

Un-"wise" analysis
Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor has drawn criticism for saying in an October 2001 speech, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't...

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is profoundly disappointed that President Obama has failed to follow through with his promises for 'openness' by reaffirming much of the so-called Tiahrt Amendments.

This means a continuation of the reckless Bush-era policies that endanger public safety and make...

Trying to "grade" President Obama's first hundred days with respect to gun violence prevention is like grading a student who has registered for class, done a good job with preparations, but has put off attendance and test-taking to the next semester.

Over the last 100 days, the nation has suffered...