T. Christian Heyne is the Chief Programs and Policy Officer at Brady, one of the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organizations, where he leads all legislative and programmatic efforts at the federal and state levels. Prior to assuming this position, Christian served as the legislative director at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CGSV).

Throughout his career, Christian has worked to build consensus both at the state-level and in Congress to end the epidemic of gun violence in America. Christian has successfully developed, lobbied, and assisted with the implementation of a variety of local, state, and federal policies. Among legislative accomplishments, Christian worked with legislatures in 17 states across the country to help develop, introduce, pass and implement extreme risk laws, which allow families and law enforcement to work with courts to temporarily separate individuals at an increased risk of violent behavior from firearms. At Brady, he has helped oversee and grow the combating crime guns initiative, working on non-legislative solutions to stem the flow of illegal guns into vulnerable communities by holding irresponsible and negligent actors of the gun industry responsible for behavior that contributes to gun violence.

Christian prioritizes strong relationships across the political and ideological spectrum of the gun violence prevention movement and its partners, fostering collaboration with academics, researchers, policymakers, activists, implementers, and more. Brady is proud to be survivor-founded and -led, and Christian strives to ensure not only that survivors’ voices are genuinely heard and reflected in each stage of Brady’s work, but also that survivors are leaders at the forefront of the broader movement.

Christian began advocating for stronger gun laws after a man with a history of violence shot his parents on Memorial Day 2005. His father survived multiple gunshots, but his mother was killed. In the wake of this tragedy, Christian and his Dad started a Brady chapter in Ventura County, and, shortly thereafter, a collegiate chapter for Brady at California State University, Chico.

Christian is originally from Thousand Oaks, California. After receiving a Legal Studies degree and a Paralegal Certificate from California State University, Chico, Christian moved to Washington, D.C., where he currently resides.