[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL POLICE WEEK
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, last week many of our Nation's police
officers joined together in Washington, DC to celebrate National Police
Week. It began Monday, May 13 with a candlelight vigil at the National
Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The week-long tribute to our
Nation's Federal, State and local police officers honors those who died
in the line of duty and those who continue to serve and protect us
everyday at great personal risk.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in
2001 there were 230 police officers killed in the line of duty. While
many of the officers who were killed in the line of duty over the past
year died as a result of the tragic events of September 11, there were
many other officers who died because of gun violence. Of the 230 police
officers killed in the line of duty last year, 68 were killed by a
firearm.
To help stem the tide of gun violence, Senator Reed introduced the
Gun Show Background Check Act. I cosponsored that bill because I
believe it is an important tool to help to prevent guns from getting
into the hands of criminals. This bill simply applies existing law
governing background checks to persons buying guns at gun shows. It is
supported by a variety of law enforcement organizations including the
International Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs of
Police, National Black Police Association, Police Foundation and
National Troopers Coalition. We should stand with our Nation's law
enforcement community and take this common sense step to reduce gun
violence.
I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of gun safety
legislation. This is one step we can take to try to make sure guns do
not get into the hands of criminals and others prohibited by law.
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