[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 53593-53594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26530]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 200 / Tuesday, October 15, 1996 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 53593]]
Proclamation 6935 of October 10, 1996
National Day of Concern About Young People and
Gun
Violence, 1996
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Few losses are more difficult to face than the death of
a young person. Such deaths are even more appalling
when they result from violence by another youth. It is
a tragedy of modern American life that thousands of our
young people each year suffer deadly violence initiated
by their peers. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
data show that in the decade between 1984 and 1993 the
number of homicide arrests of juveniles skyrocketed by
168 percent. Even more disturbing, the fastest increase
in violent crime arrests of juveniles occurred among
children 10 to 12 years old. Demographic experts
predicted that, if those trends continued, juvenile
violent crime arrests would double by the year 2010.
Now, new FBI data show reason for cautious optimism.
For the first time in 7 years, the juvenile crime
arrest rate decreased--by 2.9 percent in 1995. In
addition, juvenile arrests for murder declined by 15.2
percent in 1995--the largest 1-year decrease in more
than 10 years. Since 1993, the arrest rate for murder
among juveniles has decreased by 22.8 percent.
Although this trend is encouraging, far too many of our
young people still are committing violent acts. Fueling
this problem is the prevalence of, and easy access to,
illegal firearms on our Nation's streets. Between 1985
and 1992, the number of juvenile homicides not
involving guns increased by 20 percent, while the
number involving guns jumped by 300 percent. Because
guns are easily available, routine fights among young
people often turn into gun battles. Then, as the tragic
cycle of violence repeats itself, more and more young
people, fearing for their safety, arm themselves. The
resulting escalation of gun violence and death
threatens the Nation's most precious resource for the
future--our young people.
We have expanded an experimental tracing program that
targets those who provide or sell guns to young people.
But we need to do more to keep guns out of the hands of
our kids. We need to further improve and vigorously
enforce our gun laws. And we need to reduce the sale
and use of illegal drugs, which also fuel gun violence.
We also need to begin teaching children as early as
possible how to choose not to be violent. All of us can
take an active role in making sure that conflict
resolution and other anti-violence programs are in
place in our local schools, community centers, and
places of worship. Community leaders, businesses, and
other local institutions must create ``safe havens''
where children can go after school. Such actions can be
a tangible sign of care and concern on the part of the
community. Most importantly, parents need to teach
their children right from wrong, so that they can learn
the core values of our society and live according to
them. In this undertaking, parents must be sensitive,
patient, diligent, and fair, in order to provide a
proper nonviolent model.
While parents, teachers, clergy, and the community at
large can provide encouragement, the ultimate
responsibility for reducing youth violence lies with
our young people themselves. They must commit to
resolve disputes
[[Page 53594]]
without violence and to avoid violent situations and
friends. They must become positive role models for
their peers, siblings, and younger children. Many young
people have already made this commitment and are
working in their schools and neighborhoods to end
violence. For this, we salute them and urge them to
continue to work for peaceful solutions. We call upon
all young people to make this same commitment.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim October 10, 1996, as a
National Day of Concern About Young People and Gun
Violence. On this day I call upon young people in
classrooms and playgrounds across the United States to
make a solemn decision about their future. I call upon
them voluntarily to sign a pledge promising that they
will never take a gun to school, that they will never
use a gun to settle a dispute, and that they will use
their influence to prevent friends from using guns to
settle disputes. Finally, I call upon all Americans to
commit themselves anew to helping our Nation's young
people avoid violence and grow up to be happy, healthy,
and productive adults.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-six, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
first
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 96-26530
Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P