[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HOMICIDES BY GUNSHOT IN NEW YORK CITY

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, at the beginning of the second session 
of the 103d Congress, I began what became a weekly routine of reporting 
to the Senate on the number of homicides committed by gunshot in New 
York City. Not surprisingly, the numbers were shocking. In 1994, a 
total of 910 victims were shot to death. That is an average of over 17 
each week. Many more sustained serious injuries from bullet wounds.
  As of Sunday, January 8, 1995, 21 people had been shot to death in 
New York City. That despite the frigid weather, which often serves as a 
deterrent to violent crime. Obviously, the problem is not going away.
  It is unfortunate that I need to remind my colleagues of these grim 
statistics. But until we begin to take meaningful steps to remedy this 
appalling situation, I plan to continue my practice of reporting each 
week on the terrible death toll by gunshot in New York City.
  Thankfully, there is some good news to report. The number of those 
who lost their lives to gunshot in New York City last year is 
substantially lower than the number in 1993, which was 1,450. The bad 
news is that national totals are still on the rise. In 1993, the most 
recent year for which statistics are available, 16,189 people were 
killed by firearms, nearly 1,000 more than in the previous year.
  We made some important gains in our fight against gun violence in the 
103d Congress. First we passed the Brady law in November 1993. Since 
then we have prevented thousands of fugitives and felons from illegally 
purchasing guns. Second, as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law 
Enforcement Act of 1994, which was signed by President Clinton on 
September 13, 1994, the Senate agreed to a ban on 19 types of 
semiautomatic assault weapons. That same bill also included a provision 
sponsored by the Senator from New York banning a new class of cop-
killer bullets capable of piercing the soft body armor worn by law 
enforcement officials.
  We need to continue to enact tough laws that will begin to curb the 
plague of gun violence. But with some 200 million firearms in 
circulation today, and with an estimated 5,479 new ones hitting the 
streets each day, it seems obvious that gun control can ultimately have 
only limited success. That is why I have long advocated ammunition 
control as the best solution to the epidemic of gun violence. While we 
have a supply of guns that will last us well into the next century, if 
not longer, we have perhaps only a 3- or 4-year supply of ammunition. 
The obvious solution, then, is to control the supply of bullets, 
particularly those used most often in the commission of crimes.
  On the first day of the 104th Congress, I introduced six bills, some 
of which I had introduced in previous Congresses, relating to the 
subject of ammunition control. Some of these place bans on certain 
rounds of ammunition, including the deadly Black Talon bullet. Others 
heavily tax these pernicious bullets. A final bill requires records to 
be kept with respect to the disposition of ammunition and commissions a 
national study on the use of bullets. Currently, there are no reporting 
requirements for manufacturers or importers of ammunition. We need to 
know how much of what kinds of ammunition are being produced in order 
to help us craft more intelligent policy in this area.
  Mr. President, 1994 saw too many tragic incidents involving guns. 
Many occurred right here in the city of Washington. Doubtless, many 
more will occur in 1995. We can, and must, do something about this 
without delay. I urge my colleagues to support the measures which I 
have introduced.
  Mr. PACKWOOD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
  Mr. PACKWOOD. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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