On November 30, 1993, the Brady bill—a law mandating background checks prior to the sale of handguns—was signed by President Bill Clinton. James Brady, former press secretary to President Reagan, was in attendance. Brady was severely wounded in 1981 during an assassination attempt on President Reagan’s life. Reagan was shot in the lung but recovered. Brady had a grave brain injury. He and his wife campaigned long and hard for the handgun safety bill.
