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For Immediate Release
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Statement on Fort Hood Tragedy

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence,
issued the following statement about the tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas:

"Our
deepest sympathies go to the families who lost loved ones or are today
visiting them in the hospital. Along with the rest of the country, we
wish the Fort Hood community a return to a secure and safe environment.

WASHINGTON

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence,
issued the following statement about the tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas:

"Our
deepest sympathies go to the families who lost loved ones or are today
visiting them 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 the tragedy yesterday, we were in the midst of planning a
response to the latest dangerous legislative proposal from the gun
lobby in the United States Senate - language to automatically restore
access to guns to veterans designated by the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Justice Department as 'mentally incapacitated'
or 'mentally incompetent.' In light of what happened yesterday - a
violent attack by an emotionally unstable soldier - it is even clearer
that the proposal being pushed by Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina should be rejected.

"America
has seen an epidemic of horrific gun violence at churches and
synagogues, workplaces, health clubs, high schools, universities,
police stations and now Army bases. This latest tragedy, at a heavily
fortified army base, ought to convince more Americans to reject the
argument that the solution to gun violence is to arm more people with
more guns in more places. Enough is enough."

Brady United formerly known as The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and its legislative and grassroots affiliate, the Brady Campaign and its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, is the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence. We are devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.