[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S59]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MAKING A COMMITMENT

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, as we begin a new Congress, I am hopeful 
that the Senate will consider and pass sensible gun safety legislation 
for the benefit of our families, communities, and police officers. The 
109th Congress has the opportunity to act together on a bipartisan 
basis to pass legislation that will make our streets safer for all 
Americans.
  In order to achieve a reduction in gun violence, we must commit 
ourselves to enacting legislation that supports this goal. The 108th 
Congress missed numerous opportunities to have a positive impact on 
safety in our communities across the nation. In the last Congress, we 
did not close the gun show loophole, we did not reauthorize the 1994 
assault weapons ban, and we failed to make needed improvements to the 
National Instant Criminal Background Check System that would have made 
it more difficult for convicted criminals to gain access to guns.
  Combating gun violence also requires a commitment to funding 
effective gun violence prevention and enforcement programs. 
Unfortunately, the Fiscal Year 2005 omnibus appropriations bill signed 
by the President in December eliminated much of the funding for one of 
these programs, known as Project Safe Neighborhoods.
  The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative focuses on increased 
enforcement of existing gun laws, vigorous prosecution of crimes 
committed with handguns, and gun violence prevention education. The 
project supports organizations working against gun violence and has 
provided over $1 billion in funding to help prosecute gun crimes, hire 
personnel, provide training, and assist with community outreach 
activities. It is critical that we provide adequate resources to 
programs like the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative in order to 
more effectively address the gun violence epidemic in this country.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in working to adequately fund 
effective gun violence reduction programs and enact sensible gun safety 
legislation that will help to make our communities safer.

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