Gun-Control Advocate Sarah Brady Dies at 73

WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) — Sarah Brady, the widow of James Brady, the former White House press secretary who was shot during an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, died Friday. She was 73. Her death was announced by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, an organization the Bradys founded in order to support gun-control laws across the nation.”We are heartbroken over the loss of Sarah Brady, our dear friend and Chairperson of the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence,” the organization said on Facebook. “Sarah was a champion for gun violence prevention and her commitment and fiery compassion will live on.”

The cause of Sarah’s death wasn’t revealed.

She and her husband became advocates for greater gun control after the 1981 shooting that left James paralyzed and injured Reagan.

The Brady Bill, or the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, named after James and Sarah, was signed into law in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. It mandated federal background checks for people buying handguns in the United States.

Sarah is survived by her son, James Brady Jr. Her husband died in August.