June 14, 1999

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June 14, 1999

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
WORKING TO REDUCE YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE

�This week, we face the test. It's time for Congress to side with our children instead of the gun lobby.�

Vice President Al Gore
June 14, 1999

Today, in his address to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Vice President Gore released a new government report showing an alarmingly high rate of gun violence among 18- to 20-year-olds. The report is part of a comprehensive strategy by the Clinton-Gore Administration to study and prevent the causes of youth violence. The Vice President also urged Congress to pass common-sense legislation to keep guns out of the hands of children.

Announcing the Results of a New Study on Youth Gun Violence. In his remarks before the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Vice President Gore released a new government report showing an alarmingly high rate of gun violence among 18- to 20-year-olds. The report, jointly prepared by the Departments of Treasury and Justice, shows that:

While they comprise only 4% of the population, 18- to 20-year-olds commit over 23% of all gun murders;
18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds ranked first, second, and third in the number of gun murders committed;
18- to 20-year-olds are more likely to use a gun to commit a crime than other age groups; and
Of crime guns traced by law enforcement in 27 cities, more crime guns were possessed by 19-year-olds than any other age. Crime guns possessed by 18-year-olds ranked second.

Urging Congress to Pass Common-Sense Gun Laws. The Vice President called on the House of Representatives, who will debate gun legislation this week, to act swiftly to pass common-sense laws to protect America's children. Specifically, the Vice President called on Congress to pass into law measures that would:

raise the legal age for handgun possession from 18 to 21;
require child-safety locks on guns; and
require background checks on those who buy guns at gun shows.

A Comprehensive Strategy for Preventing Youth Violence. Today's report is part of a comprehensive strategy by the Clinton-Gore Administration to study and prevent the causes of youth violence. Other steps the Administration has taken include:

proposing common-sense legislation to keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals;
holding a strategy session to discuss children, violence and responsibility;
ordering a study on the marketing of violence to children;
working with the National Association of Theater Owners to enforce movie ratings; and
challenging the entertainment industry to reduce youth exposure to violence

June 14, 1999