[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]


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  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