Goodnight, James Brady

Parent Cafe
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<p>I was watching TV,sitting on the floor of my apartment arranging index cards to write the second part of my dissertation when he and Reagan were shot. Seems like only yesterday… not 33 years ago. Scary that despite the Brady Law, working on gun control issues continues to be a challenge today. Goodbye, James Brady. You did have a wicked sharp wit.</p>

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<p>33 years ago?
RIP.</p>

<p><a href=“First Take: Thank you, Jim Brady”>http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/08/04/first-reagan-thank-you-jim-brady/13583551/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Yes, EK. They were shot in 1981</p>

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<p>I also remember like yesterday. And the footage they had of him laying on the sidewalk is one of the most horrifying things I have ever seen. </p>

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<p>But how can that be?
I can’t be more than 36!
Ok 42, at the most.</p>

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<p>jym, what are index cards? ;)</p>

<p>I wish his death would add momentum to the gun laws, but I fear that’s just not going to happen in my lifetime.</p>

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<p>Index cards- those things you used when you got ready to take a test printed on a mimiograph…</p>

<p>Agreed about wishing what you are wishing.</p>

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<p>I was just beyond two weeks over-due with my first child when President Regan and James Brady were shot. I thought I was going to be the first eternally pregnant person….so the details of that day are quite vivid as I was very eager (glad is not the correct word, but I hope you all get my drift here) to get my mind off ME and completely engaged in something else. It worked. Water broke and first son was born the next day. HIS son starts Kindergarten tomorrow. The circle of life?</p>

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<p>I was thinking of making a donation in his honor to a suitable organization (the Brady Foundation or one of the similar newer organizations). Seems like a fitting way to try to move his cause forward.</p>

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<p>I read his obituary in the NYT today. One of the laws Brady had pushed for would have required safety training for gun owners. Apparently that’s not required. You can own a gun with no training, but you need a driver’s license to operate a car. And in some states, after a certain age, the driver’s license is not automatically renewed; you have to pass additional tests and vision exams.</p>

<p>Scary. </p>

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<p>I saw yesterday that they ruled his death a homicide because it was a result of his gunshot injury in 1981.</p>

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<p>There is a very nice tribute to James on the Brady Campaign website.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.bradycampaign.org/inthenews/passing-of-james-brady-former-press-secretary-to-president-reagan-0”>http://www.bradycampaign.org/inthenews/passing-of-james-brady-former-press-secretary-to-president-reagan-0&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;