Pat Quinn Picks Up Anti-Gun Group's Endorsement

Pat Quinn is still behind in the polls, but has picked up some key endorsements in recent weeks. Aside from the Illinois Education Association, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is now backing the Quinn-Sheila Simon ticket.

The Associated Press reports that the national anti-gun group will officially announce their endorsement of Quinn Tuesday on the South Side. The endorsement comes just one week after Quinn formed an Anti-Violence Commission to gather testimony from victims of violence. He also signed a new state gun law in mid-July that requires a mandatory one-to three year prison sentence for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without an Illinois firearm registration card.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence was started by Jim Brady, who was President Ronald Reagan's press secretary in 1981. Brady took a bullet for Reagan and became and ardent supporter of gun control after the shooting.

The group's president, Paul Helmke, is scheduled to attend Tuesday's event with Quinn.