NLC PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION
COMMITTEE
March 8, 2015
THE BRADY MODEL
Brady is working to engage, mobilize and empower the American public to make
homes, schools, workplaces and communities safe
Policy
 Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and dangerous individuals (consistent with
Second Amendment); Finish the Job of background checks for all gun sales
Public Health and Safety Education
 Social norms regarding 300 million guns already in circulation and being purchased by
law abiding citizens
Legal Action
 Holding the gun industry accountable for dangerous and irresponsible practices
policy
#StopBadApples
BRADY’S LEGAL ACTION PROJECT
The nation's only public interest law program devoted to defending
reasonable gun laws and reforming the gun industry by representing
victims of gun violence (pro bono). Founded 1989.
Strategies:
•
Hold irresponsible gun dealers and manufactures accountable for
reckless and negligent business practices by representing victims
of gun violence to ensure justice for victims and their families.
•
Defend sensible gun violence prevention laws that keep
communities safe
•
Challenge and defeat gun laws that harm public safety
#StopBadApples
 91.6% of gun dealers do not supply any crime guns
 About 7% of dealers have two or more traces
 3% of dealers have 5+ traces and sell about 72% of guns traced to crime
policy
STOP BAD APPLE GUN DEALERS
A Bad Apple Gun Dealer facilitates illegal sales
by allowing individuals who pass background
checks to purchase weapons for others, or straw
purchases.
Violation of federal law occurs when the straw
purchaser makes a false statement to the
firearms dealer by lying on the ATF form—the
official firearm transaction record.
“I didn't think it
was any of my
business”
Since such a small percentage of dealers are
responsible for dangerous gun sales, we can
identify and stop bad apple gun dealers
—JON SAUERS,FEDERALLY-LICENSED
FIREARMS DEALER
policy
#StopBadApples
policy
ORGANIZE
impacted
communities
SUCCESSFUL
LAWSUITS
for victims
EDUCATE AND
ACTIVATE
“STOP BAD APPLE GUN DEALERS”
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY
REFORM
• Broad adoption of
code of conduct
• ATF shut down
dealers
IMPACT
Fewer bad apple gun
dealers
Fewer gun crimes
broader public
EDUCATE GUN
DEALERS
policy
7
#StopBadApples
GOALS
Shut down or reform 50% of “bad apple” gun dealers in 5 years.
 Successful suits result in adherence to code of conduct, often dealer
license revocation by ATF, monetary settlement sends warning to other
“bad apples”.
 Public pressure results in adherence to code of conduct.
 Industry Adoption of Best Practices provide example for others
policy
#StopBadApples
STRATEGIES
 Engage and empower impacted
communities through protest events.
 Educate and activate broader
public through reports, PR events,
mass media stories, petitions.
 Educate and send clear message to
“bad apples”: if you sell guns to
criminals, you’ll be held accountable.
policy
LEGAL ACTION
communications
10
#StopBadApples
IMPACT OF LEGAL ACTION
legal action
#StopBadApples
“BAD APPLE” GUN DEALER CASES
legal action
#StopBadApples
GUN DEALER CODE OF CONDUCT
The gun dealer commits to do all that it reasonably can to prevent dangerous people from obtaining
and using firearms, including, but not limited to, doing the following:
1.
Prevent sales of guns to straw purchasers or gun traffickers.
2.
Prevent sales to persons prohibited from buying guns or too
dangerous to possess guns.
3.
Prevent criminals from obtaining firearms through thefts.
4.
Ensure that employees are responsible, law-abiding people that are prepared to be
effective gatekeepers.
5.
Assist law enforcement to investigate and prevent criminal access to guns.
6.
Maintain insurance for victims who are entitled to compensation.
legal action
ORGANIZING
communications
14
#StopBadApples
ORGANIZING GOALS
Create public pressure and awareness against “bad apple” gun
dealers:
 Pressure dealers to adopt Brady Code of Conduct
 Attract media attention to issue and culprits
 Create deep ongoing partnership with community based organizations
from GVP community and beyond (e.g., impacted communities, law
enforcement, faith, Latino)
 Create tools and resources for scaling and mass participation
 Partner with law enforcement to develop trace reports
organizing
#StopBadApples
Campaign Launch: Chicago
Chuck’s Gun Shop in Riverdale, IL
 200 protesters (victims,
impacted community)
 Partnership with Iocal / state
groups (faith, victim, GVP)
 Supported by and coordinated
with Rep. Robyn Kelly
Arizona Protest
Windy City Pawn Shop in Phoenix, AZ
 175 protesters
 Engagement of Latino community
 Featured speakers Rep. Ruben Gallego
and former NCLR Chair
organizing
#StopBadApples
organizing
17
#StopBadApples
SCALING THE CAMPAIGN IN 2015
 Litigate existing cases and bring new ones
 Follow-up on Phoenix and Chicago protests
 Justice for victims brochure
 Online victim stories in-take
 Letters to Gun Dealers
 At least 10 protests
 Completion of “Bad Apple” Toolkit
organizing
#StopBadApples
NATIONAL REPORT ON “BAD APPLE” GUN DEALERS
 Brady is finalizing a national report on “bad apple” gun dealers for publication
in 2015.
 Highlights include:





Explanation, analysis of what makes dealer a “bad apple”;
Impact “bad apple” gun dealers have on specific types of crime;
Examples of specific “bad apple” gun dealers impact on communities;
Recommendations for how to stop and/or reform “bad apple” gun dealers;
Analysis of number, geography and ranking of “bad apple” gun dealers.
policy
#StopBadApples
Sean Kirkendall, Senior Policy & Public Safety Manager
Government Relations & National Partnerships
202-725-5528
skirkendall@bradymail.org
WWW.BRADYCAMPAIGN.ORG
THANK YOU