Page 5 - The Illinois Sig - Spring 2011

Reagan spokesman Jim Brady presses
Obama on guns President’s Report - April, 2011

By JIM ABRAMS | Published: 2:52 PM 03/30/2011 | Updated: 10:50 PM 03/30/2011 By Eric W. Rahn ‘75

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jim Brady, President Ronald Reagan’s smooth-talking s we move toward the close
press secretary, hasn’t stopped speaking his mind, forcefully and poignantly. He Aof the 2010-2011 school
made that clear from the Capitol to the White House on the 30th anniversary of year, we reflect on the status of the
the assassination attempt that paralyzed him. undergraduate chapter as well as
“I wouldn’t be here in this Kappa Kappa Corporation. Two
damn wheelchair if we had things immediately come to mind –
commonsense legislation,” the undergraduate chapter continues
Brady said Wednesday at a to enjoy success on campus and
Capitol Hill news conference, Kappa Kappa Corporation continues
joined by his wife, Sarah, and to provide strong advice and guidance
lawmakers in calling for gun to the undergraduate chapter.
control legislation. The Bradys Further, we have made a great deal of
head the Brady Campaign to progress in our alumni communications program.
Prevent Gun Violence. For the past two years in particular, we have encouraged
“Fight fiercely,” Brady, 70, the undergrads to focus heavily on scholarship, rushing and
told the audience. their pledge program. As noted elsewhere in this issue, the
Later Wednesday he fall scholarship results were excellent and more important,
delivered a similar message at the pledge class excelled for the second fall semester in a row.
Former White House press secretary James Brady,
center, who was left paralyzed in the Reagan the White House after meeting Hopefully, this is the new tradition! The fall class brought
assassination attempt, gestures during a news with President Barack Obama, 29 new into the brotherhood at the February initiation. We
conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, who has taken a cautious stance welcome these new brothers with open arms – they are the
march 30, 2011, marking the 30th anniversary of the on gun control. The president future of the Chapter.
shooting. From left are, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., has declined to endorse some of I am also pleased to report we continue to be blessed
Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke, Brady, and
his wife Sarah Brady. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) the legislation supported by the with outstanding undergraduate chapter leadership. The
Bradys. undergraduate officers have dedicated themselves to making
The Bradys said Obama expressed agreement with their goals but said that Kappa Kappa Chapter the best it can be and as the reports from
he’s learned since coming to Washington that things take time. the undergraduates indicate, they are having an outstanding year.
“It takes two years to make Minute Rice,” Brady said he told Obama about Our alumni support this year is approaching the levels
the pace of progress in Washington. we experienced before the economy hit the skids in the fall of
The gunman, John Hinckley Jr., shot Brady in the head during the attack on 2008. Our goal was to get to $20,000 in our Annual Program
Reagan outside a Washington hotel in 1981. contributions. We are well past that number due the incredible
Hinckley, who said he was trying to impress actress Jodie Foster, also support of the Kappa Kappa alumni. I wish to personally
wounded a Secret Service agent and a District of Columbia police officer. thank all of you who have made this a very successful year!
Hinckley was declared mentally incompetent and consigned to a Washington As I previously reported, last fall we elected a new Board
mental institution where he remains today, with family visiting rights. of Directors which includes a number of younger alums. We
Asked what he remembers about that day, Brady said: “Not being the same continue to seek interested alumni to serve on Kappa Kappa’s
person that I was. I used to be a track runner. No more. But I am not going to board. If any of you are interested, we would welcome
run away from this.” your participation. Kappa Kappa has a rich and wonderful
The Bradys were joined on Capitol Hill by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., tradition of success – both at the undergraduate level and with
and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., who have introduced bills to ban the our alumni. We have been blessed with dedicated volunteers
kinds of large-capacity assault clips used in the January attack in Tucson, and generous alums. I am confident the chapter will honor
Ariz., that killed six and wounded 13, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who’s this tradition with continued dedication and success!
recuperating from a bullet to the brain.
Obama has not endorsed that legislation, although he was once an outspoken
supporter of the now-defunct ban on assault weapons that expired in 2004 after
Congress failed to renew it. Obama has tempered his language on guns since Learn how important introduced legislation can
becoming president, adopting a stance that acknowledges the political reality make almost 100% of gifts towards renovation
that supporting gun control measures can hurt Democrats at the ballot box. The and/or construction of fraternity and sorority
president called earlier this month for a new national conversation on gun safety houses tax deductible.
in the wake of Giffords’ shooting, but it’s not clear what if anything will come
of it. Senate: S. 705 House: HR 1327
Brady wore a blue bracelet Wednesday with Giffords’ name on it and told
reporters at the White House that he showed it to the President. Then call your U.S. State Senator and U.S.
“There were so many similarities to mine that it hurt a lot,” he said of the Represenative to show your support.
congresswoman’s shooting. Brady spoke to reporters in the White House press To find your Senators and Representative,
briefing room, which is named in his honor the James S. Brady Press Briefing please visit:
Room. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/
Associated Press writer Erica Werner contributed to this report. findyourreps.xpd?state 5