James S. Brady, Ronald Reagan: Former White House Press Secretary & President’s Spokesman Dead At 73, Gun Control Advocate Remembered

James S. Brady, the former press secretary wounded in an attempted assassination on President Ronald Reagan's life back in 1981, died earlier today at the age of 73, reports the New York Times.

Word of his passing spread quickly, but his family has not released a cause of death.

On the day of President Reagan's assassination attempt, Brady was one of four men injured at the hand of John W. Hinckley, a college dropout with a history of mental illness. He later said he tried to kill the President in order to impress actress Jodie Foster.

While Reagan was hit along with a DC police officer and a member of the Secret Service, Brady's injury was the worst of them all –– having been shot directly in the head. The bullet caused his left arm to be paralyzed, his left leg to weaken, impaired his speech and caused damage to his short-term memory.

He stated in a 1994 interview, "What I was, I am not now. What I was, I will never be again."

Following his recovery, he became the symbol for gun control, calling for a more enforcement and tighter regulations. He and his wife Sarah founded The Brady Handgun Violence Act, which called for background checks and waiting periods for those looking to purchase firearms.

In 2006, Brady gave an interview with CBS news, stating that his concern for gun control was still prevalent because the weapons were still being made available to those with mental issues like Mr. Hinckley.

"He scares me," the former press secretary said, "because he doesn't have 52 cards in his deck. He didn't the day that he shot at us. He got six rounds off and hit four of us."

When asked if he felt bitter towards Hinckley, Brady replied, "Well, it's not classy to be bitter, and I try to be classy."