    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [August 12, 1994]
    [Pages 1462-1463]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Anticrime Legislation
    August 12, 1994

        Ladies and gentlemen, last night when 225 Members of Congress voted
    with the NRA and the Republican congressional leadership, under enormous
    pressure, they decided that their political security was more important
    than the personal security of the American people. They said no to
    100,000 police on the street, no to getting guns and kids off the
    street, no to protecting our police forces and our citizens against
    gangs with assault weapons, no to giving our kids some things to say yes
    to as well as something to say no to, no to ``three strikes and you're
    out'' and the toughest punishment laws ever passed by the United States
    Congress.
        We are going out now, the Cabinet, mayors of both parties, citizens
    of both parties all across this country, to say that this crime bill
    cannot die. Congress has an obligation to the American people that goes
    way beyond politics and way beyond party. The American people have said
    over and over this is their first concern. If we can't meet this
    concern, there is something

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    badly wrong in Washington. And we are going today, starting now, to the
    National Association of Police Officers conference to carry this battle
    back. We are going to fight and fight and fight until we win this battle
    for the American people.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:12 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House, prior to his departure for Minneapolis, MN.