Losing Control at Handgun Control?
by Steven Ertelt,  conservativeinfo@topica.com

While one airliner after another slashes their payrolls, the best-known
anti-gun lobby in Washington laid off 14 people Tuesday.

Officials at the Brady Campaign, formerly known as Handgun Control, confirmed
to HOH yesterday that they cut nearly 20 percent of their staff this week.

"It's a difficult time around here," said spokesman Brendan Daly. "Like a lot
of other nonprofit organizations, we've been hit by the downturn in the
economy."

Daly said the group has also been affected by the terrorism in America, which
has led to overflow contributions to relief efforts. "The terrorist attacks
have rightly focused people on helping the victims, but that has a direct
impact on our fundraising."

The fact that gun control has not been at the top of the Congressional agenda
has also not helped the group founded by Jim and Sarah Brady after Mr. Brady
nearly died from a gunshot wound during the 1981 assassination attempt on
President Ronald Reagan. Among their triumphs was getting the Brady bill
signed into law, which resulted in a five-day waiting period on handgun
purchases.

"They've known some of these people for a very long time," Daly said of the
couple. "But I think they're holding up."