The Brady Bill Opposers were divided into two groups: those who voted 'NAY' and those who voted 'YEA'. Those who voted 'NAY' were against the bill, while those who voted 'YEA' were in favor of it. The Brady Bill was a 1993 law that required background checks for gun purchases and a five-day waiting period before a gun could be purchased. It was named after James Brady, who was shot during an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981.