James Brady Has Died

[Ron Thorne]

James Brady, Reagan spokesman
and anti-gun activist, dies at 73


James Brady gives a thumbs up during the signing of the Brady bill at the White House on
Nov. 30, 1993. The bill requiring a background check on handgun buyers was named after
Mr. Brady. Dirck Halstead/Getty Images

By Rebecca Kaplan CBS News August 4, 2014, 1:55 PM

Last Updated Aug 4, 2014 4:15 PM EDT

James Brady, the spokesman for former President Ronald Reagan who was shot during a 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan, has died at the age of 73, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence confirmed to CBS News.

James Brady (1940-2014)

The gunshot wound that nearly killed him and left him paralyzed on his left side spurred Brady and his wife to spend the next three decades-plus advocating for stricter gun control.

"We are heartbroken to share the news that our beloved Jim 'Bear' Brady has passed away after a series of health issues," Brady's family said in a statement.

"Jim touched the lives of so many and has been a wonderful husband, father, friend and role model," the statement continued. "We are enormously proud of Jim's remarkable accomplishments - before he was shot on the fateful day in 1981 while serving at the side of President Ronald Reagan and in the days, months and years that followed.

"Jim Brady's zest for life was apparent to all who knew him, and despite his injuries and the pain he endured every day, he used his humor, wit and charm to bring smiles to others and make the world a better place."

Former first lady Nancy Reagan said in a statement, "I still remember vividly that day in March 1981, when Sarah and I sat together in a tiny room near the emergency room at George Washington University Hospital, trying to comfort each other while we both were gripped with unspeakable fear. The bond we established then was unlike any other.