“IF YOU WILL PASS THE BRADY BILL, I'LL SURE SIGN IT” Following the attempted assassination of President Ronald Regan in 1981, legislative efforts to limit the sale of handguns had fizzled. The 1992 Presidential election brought new opportunities to address gun control issues and reignited the fight to move the Brady Bill from committee to the floor for a vote. Image Read a memo from the Clinton administration that details the legislative history of the Brady Bill before 1993. (pg. 2) Months before the Brady Bill had failed to draw a Senate vote, Bill Clinton, the Governor of Arkansas, and the Democratic candidate for President, was on the campaign trail gaining support for the bill. In Birmingham, Alabama, Governor Clinton declared that the Brady Bill would “not infringe on anybody's right to keep and bear arms, but it would make our streets safer”. Governor Clinton went on to say that “The Brady Bill should pass the United States Congress and be signed by the President of the United States.” Governor Clinton would reiterate his support for the Brady Bill at campaign stops around the country, forging a promise with the American people to act on gun control. In November of 1992, Governor Clinton won the presidential election to become the 42nd President of the United States. The new administration’s next step was to transform Campaign promises into presidential actions. Image Read the full transcript of Governor Clinton’s campaign speech in Birmingham, Alabama. Just weeks into President Clinton’s first term, Representative Charles Schumer and the wife of James Brady, Sarah Brady, reached out to the White House to ask for President Clinton’s support in reintroducing the Brady Bill as a freestanding bill. In a decision memo on the subject, the President indicated his support for such a move and Representative Schumer began to prepare for the bill’s reintroduction. Image Read the decision memo in which Howard Paster, the Director for Legislative Affairs, suggests to President Clinton that they support Representative Schumer’s choice to introduce the Brady Bill as a freestanding bill. President Clinton solidified his support of the Brady Bill for both chambers of Congress and the American people during the 1993 State of the Union Address. After stressing the need to address gun violence in American communities, President Clinton pledged: “If you will pass the Brady Bill, I will sure sign it.” On February 22, 1993, just five days after President Clinton’s speech, the Brady Bill was reintroduced by Representative Charles Schumer. Listen to President Clinton’s 1993 State of the Union Speech. Fast forward to 35:00 for his words of support for the Brady Bill. [Back To Home] [Next Chapter]