Gun control advocate James Brady dies at 73 ADVERTISING Gun control advocate James Brady dies at 73 WASHINGTON (AP) — A major trait that endeared Jim Brady to the Washington press corps was his sense of humor, especially when he
Gun control advocate James Brady dies at 73
WASHINGTON (AP) — A major trait that endeared Jim Brady to the Washington press corps was his sense of humor, especially when he made fun of his own boss.
When Ronald Reagan was campaigning for president in 1980, Reagan drew scorn from environmentalists for saying that trees were a greater source of pollution than cars. Aboard the campaign plane, Brady pointed at a forest fire in the distance and yelled, “Killer trees! Killer trees!” to the great amusement of reporters.
After the election, Reagan’s advisers appeared hesitant to appoint Brady press secretary. Nancy Reagan was said to feel the job required someone younger and better-looking than the 40-year-old, moon-faced, balding Brady.
“I come before you today not as just another pretty face but out of sheer talent,” Brady told reporters. A week later, he got the job.
Brady, who died Monday at 73, would need humor and much more after March 30, 1981. On that day John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel just two months into the new president’s term. Reagan nearly died from a chest wound. Three others, including Brady, were struck by bullets from Hinckley’s handgun.
Shot in the head, Brady lived through hours of delicate surgery and then many more operations over the years. But he never recovered the normal use of his limbs and was often in a wheelchair. Besides partial paralysis from brain damage, he suffered short-term memory impairment, slurred speech and constant pain.
Still, along with his wife, Sarah, he went on to become the face and as much as possible the voice of the gun-control movement in the United States. A federal law requiring background checks for handgun buyers bears his name.
Homes badly damaged in S. California storm
MOUNT BALDY, Calif. (AP) — Crews cleared roads in an area where some 2,500 people had been stranded after thunderstorms caused mountain mudslides in Southern California, while authorities estimated Monday that between 6 and 8 homes were badly damaged and likely uninhabitable.
Traffic resumed on some San Bernardino County roads that had been blocked by several feet of mud, rocks and debris near two rural communities.
A group of about 500 campers who spent the night at a community center near Forest Falls headed down from the mountains after the main road reopened. An artery into Oak Glen, where about 1,500 people were stranded, was also open again.
Up to 8 homes near Forest Falls were “likely lost” and several others sustained minor damage from mud and water, Fire Capt. Jeff Britton said. At least 1,000 residents were unable to leave the area overnight. Everyone in the two towns was accounted for and no injuries were reported, officials said.
To the west, a 48-year-old man died in a car that was swept into a rain-swollen creek near Mount Baldy. Coroner’s officials identified him on Monday as Joo Hwan Lee of El Segundo.
Water safe to drink
in Toledo, mayor says
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Two days after warning some 400,000 people in Ohio and Michigan not to drink their tap water, the mayor of Ohio’s fourth-largest city declared on Monday that the water was now safe and took a sip.
The city lifted the advisory after dozens of tests over the weekend showed an algae-induced toxin contaminating Lake Erie had dropped to safe levels following intensive chemical treatments.
“Families can return to normal life,” said Mayor D. Michael Collins.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich said the state will conduct a full review of what happened, including taking a look at Toledo’s aging water system and figuring out how to reduce pollution that feeds algae in the western end of the lake.
