President Clinton signs Brady handgun bill

John Hinckley, Jr, the would-be assassin of President Ronald Reagan, during his attempt also managed to shoot the president’s press secretary, James S. Brady in the head. And then investigations revealed he got his revolver by providing a fake name and identification. Sarah Brady – James’ wife – introduced legislation that would make guns harder to obtain, requiring more through investigations of buyers, but the bill met strong opposition from the NRA and pro-gun rights groups. It passed only during a Thanksgiving recess when three senators met quickly to “unanimously” vote the bill into law.

On this day in, November 30, in 1993, President Bill Clinton signed into law the “Brady Bill,” as it became popularly known, requiring FBI background checks and a five-day waiting period for all prospective handgun buyers.

Opponents and gun rights advocates were too late to stop the bill from passing, but could still fight it retroactively. Lawsuits were filed to challenge the constitutionality of the law, arguing it infringes on the Second Amendment, the right “to keep and bear arms.” In 1997 the issue made its way to the Supreme Court, which struck down the federal background checks provision, assigning that responsibility to the individual states.