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CNN Live At Daybreak

Brady Campaign and Million Mom March Join Forces

Aired June 28, 2001 - 08:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: To discuss gun control in general, we're joined now from Washington by Sarah Brady, who heads the Brady Campaign, which is formerly known as Handgun Control, and by Donna Dees-Thomases.

And I hope I pronounced your name correctly.

DONNA DEES-THOMASES, MILLION MOM MARCH: You have, thank you.

NELSON: From the Million Mom March. Those two groups have decided to merge in October, as a way of promoting, I think, in a stronger way handgun control generally.

Let's start with you, Sarah Brady -- first of all, this development that says that the Bush administration may shorten the time that records are preserved. Are you aware of this and can you fill us in?

SARAH BRADY, THE BRADY CAMPAIGN: I have heard that, of course, the Supreme Court upheld what had been the previous decision, that they could be kept for a certain length of time. I don't know whether the Bush administration really has the authority to shorten the time or not.

I feel that law enforcement does need the opportunity to keep those records, at least until -- for a certain length of time to be sure that all the gun sales were done legally and that guns were not given out to somebody who should not have had them.

NELSON: Well, you might read this as a sign that the Bush administration would be trying to back away a bit from current existing gun control commitments. But let me ask you about the merger between your two organizations, which is intended, in a sense, to go in the other direction. What is the purpose, if both of you could tell me about it?

Let's start with you, Ms. Thomases.

DEES-THOMASES: Well, two years ago, when I was outraged about how easy people could get guns -- particularly at gun shows -- I started calling my nursery school friend moms and said, "Let's march on Washington."

And one of the first people to call me and offer support was Sarah Brady. And she said: "You know, a lot of people are going to doubt that you can do this, that you moms can really pull this together. But we're with you. I'm with you."

And right after the march, the moms wanted to create their own organization: the Million Mom March. And we have done extremely well. We've created 230 chapters across the country. But the one thing that we lack is some political know-how inside the Beltway -- and resources. And we figured we could be much stronger if we align ourselves with the Brady Campaign.

You know, there's only one NRA. And there's several -- many gun control groups. And we figured that if we join forces, we can be as strong as the NRA in this country. We have the people. We just don't have the money and the resources. But that's going to change shortly.

NELSON: Sarah Brady, you've been at this since 1989 when handgun control was formed. In a sense, you've been at since 1981 when your husband was shot in the attempt on the life of former President Ronald Reagan.

Do you get a sense that handgun control or gun control in this country is ebbing in interest? Is it in any trouble whatsoever, particularly with the new administration in Washington?

BRADY: Absolutely not. Every poll taken shows that a majority of the people in this country are for sensible, sane controls.

And I think what is really so wonderful is to see this alliance that we're forming with the Million Moms. I've seen them in action. I saw them at the March for the first time and was absolutely overwhelmed to see the sea of support for this issue. It really shows that we're developing a grassroots group throughout the country that have more enthusiasm and excitement for this issue.

NELSON: With the added members that you're going to get, where do you go from here, both of you ladies? We've only have a few seconds left. Let's hear your final comments on that.

DEES-THOMASES: Well, first of all, we need to build membership. We can't just rest on our laurels with the success of the march.

We have a Web site: www.millionmommarch.org. We need people to join us and create a very powerful voice, because until we can convince Congress that we are much, much larger than the gun lobby, will we really have meaningful policy in this country? They're afraid of the gun lobby. They have the money but we have the people power.

NELSON: Mrs. Brady?

BRADY: On that, I couldn't have said better. I think this is going to be a formidable force to deal with in the future. And it's very exciting for us all.

NELSON: Well, listen, thank you both for talking the time to talk to us this morning.

Sarah Brady from the Brady Campaign and Donna Dees-Thomases from the Million Mom March -- both of those groups merging in October.

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