Brady Campaign Misses the Point Again

Brady Campaign Gives 48 States “Failing Scores” on Gun Control,Though Violent Crime is at a Historic Low

Every year since 1997, Brady Campaign has pretended to “grade” the states, with states that have the least gun control getting the fewest points, based upon Brady’s presumption that less gun control means more crime. It released its 2007 “State Report Cards” in January 2008.

Because most states do not have the laws Brady considers essential, and some have none, Brady gives most states “failing scores.” This year, out a possible 100 Brady points, 42 states got 28 or fewer points, six got 43-54, one got 63, and one got 79. “Our gun laws are so weak,” Brady’s president lamented.


Nevertheless, violent crime is at an “historic low,” according to the Department of Justice.* Since 1991, total violent crime is down 38%, murder is down 42%, rape is down 27%, robbery is down 45%, and aggravated assault is down 34%. During 2004-2006, violent crime was lower than anytime since 1974. For the last eight years, the murder rate has been lower than anytime since 1965. Preliminary data from the FBI indicate that violent crime declined again in 2007.

In 2007, Brady would have given a state 100 points if it had limited the frequency of gun purchases, prohibited private gun sales, required gun show customers to sign ledgers handed over to the police, prohibited the sale of guns that do not engrave a serial number on fired ammunition and require registration of such guns’ purchasers, licensed and regulated gun dealers at the state level, prohibited handguns that do not have “smart” gun features, prohibited detachable-magazine semi-automatics and some pump-action rifles and shotguns, allowed the arbitrary rejection of Right-to-Carry permit applications, allowed local jurisdictions to impose gun laws more restrictive than the legislature, and allowed the criminal prosecution of people who use guns for protection.