[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)] [May 5, 1996] [Page 691] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]Statement on Violent Crime May 5, 1996 For 5 straight years before I took office, violent crime increased in America. Because of our tough and smart decisions to put more cops on the street and get kids, guns, and drugs off the street, we are now beginning to reverse the trend in violent crime.