On March 30, 1981, at 2:25 pm in Washington, DC, Ronald Reagan was struck by a bullet from a madman’s gun outside the Hilton Hotel after giving a speech at an AFL-CIO conference. It ricocheted off his limousine and landed in his lung within an inch of his heart — and difference that would’ve meant certain death.

He wasn’t the only one hit, either. DC police officer Thomas Delahanty, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and press secretary James Brady were also struck by the young, deranged Oklahoma man’s fire, to various levels of criticality.

Thankfully, the president recovered and served the rest of his term and more. The gunman, who with his wild ballistic prowess was attempting to try and impress actress Jodie Foster, was found not guilty by reason of insanity on June 21, 1982.

On March 29, 1991, one day short of the ten year “anniversary” of the attempt on his life, Reagan published a first-person account of his experience, his thoughts and feelings since, and a strong urging to pass the Brady Bill, which at the time was moving through Congress. It called for a screen/background check of would-be gun buyers so as not to sell firearms to former felons or the mentally ill. It was being held up (no pun intended) by the National Rifle Association.

Click here to read what the Gipper had to say. It’s strong. And powerful. Here are a few snippets:

It was on that day 10 years ago that a deranged young man standing among reporters and photographers shot a policeman, a Secret Service agent, my press secretary and me on a Washington sidewalk.

… four lives were changed forever, and all by a Saturday-night special — a cheaply made .22 caliber pistol — purchased in a Dallas pawnshop by a young man with a history of mental disturbance.

This nightmare might never have happened if legislation that is before Congress now — the Brady bill — had been law back in 1981.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6CNRlQG0mg