[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1804-E1805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE NATIONWIDE GUN BUYBACK ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 1999

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Nationwide Gun Buyback 
Act of 1999 (NGBA), providing federal funds to local jurisdictions to 
engage in gun buyback programs like the successful program conducted by 
the District of Columbia last month. Under the bill, funds would be 
distributed through the Justice Department after evaluation of 
proposals, and added weight would be given to jurisdictions with the 
greatest incidence of gun violence. The NGBA would require that a 
jurisdiction certify that it is capable of destroying the guns within 
30 days, that it can conduct the program safely, and that an amnesty 
appropriate for the jurisdiction will be offered. Not only individuals, 
but groups such as gangs could take advantage of the buyback provisions 
to encourage street gangs to disarm themselves.
  This bill is necessary because, despite the extraordinary 
demonstrated success of the gun buyback program in the District, local 
jurisdictions have no readily available funds for similar programs. The 
District was forced to find money on an ad hoc basis and ran out of 
funds despite many residents who still desired to turn in guns. 
Initially, the District conducted a pilot program using funds from the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development. Confronted with long lines 
of residents, the Police Department then took the program citywide, 
using drug asset forfeiture funds. Even

[[Page E1805]]

so, after using $290,000, the city ran out of funds, but not of guns 
that could have been collected. The guns were a ``good buy'' but hard-
pressed jurisdictions, especially big cities, should not have to rob 
Peter to pay Paul when it comes to public safety. The federal 
government can play a unique and noncontroversial role in reducing gun 
violence by providing the small amount authorized by my bill, $50 
million, to encourage buybacks efforts where they can be helpful.
  The District's gun buyback leadership needs to be taken nationwide 
because the nation's capital has successfully demonstrated a faster and 
easier way to get guns where criminals cannot use them and children and 
adults cannot misuse them. Gun buyback efforts are not new, but the 
recent, dramatic impact of the District's program has special bi-
partisan and natural appeal today because the program is voluntary and 
requires no change in local laws. My bill has the added feature of 
skirting the present stalemate in the Congress, where we have yet to 
pass a gun safety bill. A gun buyback bill is certainly no substitute 
for gun safety legislation, but my bill is based on demonstrated and 
successful experience in a number of cities that have achieved 
voluntary compliance by citizens with local laws.
  Families, and especially mothers, have feared guns in their homes, 
but have not known how to get rid of them. In most jurisdictions, a 
grandmother petrified that there is a gun in the house cannot turn it 
in without subjecting herself or her grandson to prosecution. This 
dangerous unintended result of gun safety legislation is reason enough 
for gun buyback efforts.
  Like tax amnesty, gun amnesty temporarily puts a premium on the 
ultimate goal. When the goal is taxes, the government puts a premium on 
getting the amount owned. When the goal is guns, the premium is on 
getting deadly weapons off the streets and out of people's homes.
  The Columbine teen massacre, the Jewish Community Center shootings, 
and the Chicago area ethnic killings have come together with the urban 
gun violence that has plagued cities for years. The result is an 
American consensus for multiple approaches to fight the gun culture. 
The extraordinary success of the buyback programs in the District and 
around the country has shown that these programs should now be made 
readily available to jurisdictions that desire to use them.
  In a market economy, efforts to buy back trouble have special appeal. 
We may disagree on the various approach as to gun violence, but 
Democrats and Republicans alike can agree to this sensible approach.
  I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation.

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