[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 52 (Tuesday, May 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E597-E598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PROJECT EXILE: THE SAFE STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACT OF 2000

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                               speech of

                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 11, 2000

  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4051, 
``Project Exile: The Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act of 2000.'' 
Project Exile adopts a zero-tolerance for federal gun crimes, with 
federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutors working hand-
in-hand to prosecute each and every firearms violation. This program 
imposes stringent and serious consequences on armed criminals by 
demonstrating that prosecution and punishment provides for deterrence 
and prevention. We need to send a real clear message to criminals who 
abuse our Second Amendment. Project Exile is a positive step in the 
direction to reduce firearm related crime in America by providing a 
five-year mandatory minimum sentence, with no eligibility for parole, 
for anyone who uses or carries a firearm in the commission of a violent 
crime, drug trafficking crime or for any convicted felon found to be in 
possession of a firearm.
  Project Exile is one of the most aggressive, creative and innovative 
crime control plans ever initiated. Since its inception in Richmond, 
Virginia, in 1997, Project Exile has produced overwhelmingly successful 
results; the Project has put more than 200 armed criminals behind bars; 
one violent gang responsible for many Richmond murders has been 
eliminated; the rate of gun carrying by criminals has been cut nearly 
in half; and the armed robbery rate for 1998 has declined 29 percent. 
This is just one state with significant examples of how the 
implementation of Project Exile has decreased gun-related crimes. It 
has proved to be so effective that Project Exile has expanded to

[[Page E598]]

other areas such as Rochester, New York and Philadelphia and other 
areas are considering adopting the same approach. Project Exile needs 
to be applied on a federal level and not just on a state level. We 
cannot comprise American families and their safety by just denying 
felons access to guns. We must do more. We must effectively enforce gun 
laws.
  We cannot be sure that our criminal justice system is doing all that 
it can do to keep guns out of the hands of violent felons if these 
felons are not consistently being prosecuted for their crimes. Our 
focus needs to be criminal control and not gun control. It is about 
time we take proactive measures to protect law-abiding citizens from 
becoming the victims of violent gun crimes. I urge my colleagues to 
vote for Project Exile.

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