[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 121 (Thursday, September 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11028-S11029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




UPDATE ON CRIME CONFERENCE AND THE RELEASE OF REPORT ``CRIME COMMITTED 
                            WITH FIREARMS''

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I want to comment briefly on the status of 
the youth violence bill conference. Conferees from the House and Senate 
had planned to meet later today to complete consideration of the 
conference report. Last night, conference staff met jointly with 
Administration officials. And discussions on firearms and culture 
related issues are moving forward. Chairman Hyde felt that his talks 
with Mr. Conyers are going very well. Accordingly, I felt we should 
keep working. however, my hope and plan is to meet next week so we can 
complete action on this bill this month.
  I also want to comment briefly on why this bill is so important. Too 
many violent crimes involve juveniles. According to the Justice 
Department, the number of juvenile arrests for violent crime, including 
crimes committed with a firearm, exceeds 1988 levels by 48 percent. Our 
youth violence problem is a compel problems that demand comprehensive 
solution. Our legislation makes our schools safer; it empowers parents; 
it recognizes the importance of prevention; and it emphasize the need 
for enforcement and getting tough on violent criminals. Part of any 
comprehensive solution to deal with crime must be a commitment to 
enforcing the laws on the books. Actions speak louder than words, 
whether we're talking about how the government deals with gun offenders 
or how it deals with terrorists.
  I am deeply saddened by the news out of Texas concerning a crazed 
gunman's senseless, hate-for-religion rampage at a Forth Worth church 
which left seven innocent people dead and many others wounded. My 
prayers go out to the victims and their families and my energies will 
be all the more dedicated towards trying to reach a consensus on the 
youth violence bill. This event--and others like it in recent months--
have energized a well-deserved and beneficial debate about the criminal 
use of firearms. Limiting criminal access to firearms, beefing up 
prosecutions, and responding to a popular culture which glamorizes 
firearms violence should all be parts of our response. But as I just 
noted, violent crime--violent juvenile crime, in particular--is a 
complex problem which deserves a comprehensive response.
  In today's Washington Post, which appropriately reports on the Texas 
shooting on its front page, is buried an article about how a Maryland 
juvenile court judge released from custody--over the objections of 
prosecutors--a 16-year-old, confessed violent sex offender who had been 
sent to Maryland's maximum security prison. He was released because the 
he was not receiving ``individualized counseling.''--Washington Post, 
Sept. 16, 1999, B-7. According to the article, the judge's view is that 
the purpose of the juvenile justice system is to ``rehabilitate rather 
than punish young offenders.'' The teenager in question--whose identity 
has been protected, by the way--was one of six teenagers who, in March 
of last year, lured a 15-year-old girl from a bus stop to a vacant 
apartment where they took turns raping, sodomizing, and beating her for 
three hours. Three teenagers who participated in the rape were 
sentenced to life but this offender has been set free by a soft-headed 
juvenile justice system. According to the article, this violent sex-
offender (whose fellow offenders are serving life-terms) will live with 
his relatives in near-by Prince George's County and will be enrolling 
in High Point High School.
  Where's the greatest threat to the public? Ask the parents of High 
Point High School this question. The greatest threat to the public is 
from criminals who are set free by a soft-headed justice system, be 
they rapists or terrorists. And criminals who commit crimes but are not 
prosecuted are left free to commit more crimes. yesterday, I released a 
report reported entitled ``Crimes Committed With Firearms--A report for 
Parent, Prosecutors, and Policy Markers.'' Our report found that over 
90% of criminals age 18 to 24 who had an substantial arrest record 
prior to being imprisoned are rearrested within three years for a 
felony or serious misdemeanor.
  I mention this article and our report to illustrate, as I have said 
repeatedly, that this is a complex problem which demands a 
comprehensive solution. Simply passing more laws which get printed in 
DOJ's law books but which go unenforced will not nothing to fight 
violent crime, let alone violent juvenile crime. And legislation which 
fails to make meaningful reforms which promotes juvenile accountability 
and juvenile record disclosure--as the Hatch-Sessions bill does--will 
prove to be a hollow accomplishment.
  In closing, we must do all we can to come together and resolve our 
differences and reach consensus. When I hear members drawing lines in 
the sand over specific provisions in the youth violence bill, I get 
concerned because it tells me that the politics of party are trumping 
the obligation to lead and do what's right.
  That is what I intend to do in this juvenile justice conference. I 
hope we have the cooperation of everybody on both sides. I hope the 
rumors that some want to play this as a political matter are not true. 
I think we need to pass a juvenile justice bill this year, and we need 
to do the very best we can do in doing that. I intend to get that

[[Page S11029]]

done, and I thank all those who cooperate in helping to get it done.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Fitzgerald). The Senator from California.
  Mrs. BOXER. Thank you, Mr. President. For the benefit of my 
colleagues, I will be finished in 5 minutes.

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