[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SAFE STREETS FOR AMERICA

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, we have all heard the saying, ``If you can't 
do the time, don't do the crime.''
  Unfortunately, the sad fact is that if you commit a violent felony 
there is only a 3- to 4-percent chance you will do any jail time. 
Looking at that another way, 96 to 97 percent of the time a violent 
criminal never sees the inside of a jail.
  No wonder Americans have said that they have had enough and want 
their streets back.
  When people are afraid to step outside their doors at night something 
is wrong. When people are afraid to sit on their porch, something is 
wrong. When fear of crime prevents many Americans in our inner-city 
areas from taking a night job or going to night school, it hurts all of 
us.
  Even the wealthy who live in guarded, gated communities feel an 
immediate need to do something about violent crime. But for middle 
class and poorer Americans, who bear the brunt of violent crime, this 
is a life-and-death issue that affects them every day.
  If nothing else, we owe the working men and women of our country, the 
ones who pay the bills, safe streets.


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