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Enactment of comprehensive legislation to address youth and gang violence and
drug use is a top Administration priority. Accordingly, on February 25, 1997,
the Department of Justice transmitted to Congress the Anti-gang and Youth
Violence Act of 1997, which was introduced as H.R. 810 by Representative
Schumer. The Administration's proposal was designed in conjunction with law
enforcement officials around the country, including those in Boston,
Massachusetts, who have implemented balanced and comprehensive programs that
successfully fight youth and gang violence. Those programs combine elements of
enforcement and prosecution with targeted and selective prevention and
intervention efforts. Unfortunately, H.R. 3 fails to embody such an approach
and, consequently, misses an important opportunity to fight and prevent
juvenile crime. Therefore, the Administration opposes House passage of H.R. 3.
H.R. 3 is neither comprehensive nor balanced because it fails to include:
- a requirement that every Federally-licensed firearms dealer provide a child
safety lock with each firearm sold;
- a prohibition on firearm possession by juveniles adjudicated delinquent of
offenses that would have been felonies if committed by an adult (and thus
barring the offender from gun possession);
- targeted funding to ensure that local prosecutors can hire additional
prosecutors for gang-related crimes;
- targeted funding, beginning in FY 1998, to ensure that localities can
establish court-based programs specifically to address issues of juvenile and
youth violence;
- greater flexibility for prosecutors in prosecuting juveniles as adults;
- provisions to protect witnesses who help prosecute gangs and other violent
offenders;
- tough drug enforcement provisions to increase penalties for selling drugs
to kids, using kids to sell drugs, and selling drugs in schools;
- provisions requiring drug testing of violent offenders and authorizing use
of prison grant funds for drug testing, treatment, and supervision of
incarcerated offenders;
- tough penalties for possessing firearms while committing violent or drug
crimes; and
- targeted funding, beginning in FY 1998, for effective prevention programs
that target at-risk youth and keep schools open to provide young people with
alternatives to criminal activity.
The Administration believes that none of these elements can be omitted if a
successful, comprehensive effort to curb youth violence is to be achieved. The
Administration will work with Congress throughout the legislative process to
ensure passage of legislation that will have a meaningful impact on juvenile
crime.
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