Brady Campaign Announces Plans to Hold Legislators Accountable for Votes

Brian Malte of the Brady Campaign was joined byChicago 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti, 33rd Ward Alderman Richard F. Mell, gun violence survivor Willie Williams andCook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine at Crane High School inChicago to announce plans for holdingIllinois state legislators accountable on the gun issue in this year's elections.

The Brady Campaign announced that its first target for defeat is Rep. Dennis Reboletti in State House District 46 who voted "no" on the Brady Campaign's top legislative priority to require Brady criminal background checks on each handgun sold. The Brady Campaign is targeting his district with an initial 10,000-piece mailing and phone call campaign to voters in his district. The 10,000 postcards were mailed to voters today. The Brady Campaign has endorsed Reboletti's opponent, Gary Nowak.

Speakers at the event spoke of the need to have accountability from legislators in order to enact stronger gun laws at the state level to help stop the gun violence plaguingChicago and other communities. "In just this last week, a 13-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were killed by gun violence on our city's streets," said Richard A. Devine,Cook County State's Attorney. "Earlier this year anElmhurst woman was stalked and shot to death. Enacting a state law to require criminal background checks on each handgun purchase will give us another tool to limit the number of guns on our streets and stem this carnage in our community."

"The lack of stronger statewide gun laws has contributed greatly to the seemingly endless supply of illegal guns inChicago," said Alderman Richard F. Mell ofChicago's 33rd Ward. "TheCity of Chicago is calling on our elected officials to enact strong state gun laws to stop illegal gun trafficking and to stop the gun violence."

"The gun violence inChicago must stop. We are tired of seeing our children being shot and killed and we need solutions," said Alderman Bob Fioretti ofChicago's 2nd Ward. "We must hold accountable those legislators who are standing in the way of enacting strong state gun laws."

The Brady Campaign has been raising funds to target legislators who voted against sensible gun laws in the last session of theIllinois legislature. In particular, the Brady Campaign is targeting legislators in theChicago suburbs who voted against HB 758, sponsored by Rep. Harry Osterman, which would have extended Brady criminal background checks to all handgun purchasers. The bill lost by two votes last April.

"Too many people are sitting on the sidelines afraid to get involved," said Willie Williams of the Willie Williams III Youth Foundation. "We need everyone to stand up and stop the guns from coming into our neighborhoods. Without our youth, there is no future."

The Brady Campaign will be announcing other expenditures in the coming days.

To see the Brady Campaign's other endorsements inIllinois, and see where the Federal candidates for elected office stand on the gun issue, go to the Brady Campaign's "Your Vote Matters" Elections web guide at http://www.bradycampaign.org/elections/.

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

Visit the Brady Campaign website at www.bradycampaign.org. For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at www.bradycampaign.org/blog/.

CONTACT: Peter Hamm of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, +1-202-898-0792, phamm@bradymail.org

SOURCE Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence