    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [October 9, 1997]
    [Pages 1330-1332]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Honoring the National Association of Police Organizations
    ``Top Cops''
    October 9, 1997

        Thank you very much. Good morning. Madam Attorney General; Tom
    Scotto, Bob Scully, the executive director of NAPO, and the other
    officers; Ray Kelly; and Mr. Feldman and the other

    [[Page 1331]]

    members of your organization who are here. I want to thank the previous
    speakers for their comments and, more importantly, for the work they
    have done to bring us to this day.
        I'm delighted to welcome you to the White House to once again honor
    our Nation's courageous ``Top Cops'' and to emphasize the importance of
    the breakthrough we are announcing today in our efforts to protect
    children from gun violence.
        Four and a half years ago, we committed ourselves, as an
    administration, to take back our streets from crime and violence. We put
    in place a comprehensive plan based on what law enforcement officers
    were already trying to do in communities all across America--to put
    100,000 new community police officers on our streets, to put tough new
    penalties on our books, to steer our young people away from crime and
    gangs and guns, and to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
        We've made real progress. Just last week, as the Attorney General
    said, we learned our Nation's murder rate has fallen to the lowest point
    in more than a generation. And for the 5th year in a row, violent crime
    and property crime have dropped nationwide. These are encouraging
    trends, and it is clear what is working. One big reason we're turning
    back the tide of crime is because we're blessed with the kind of
    outstanding police officers who are standing with me today.
        Every year, I look forward to meeting with the winners of the
    Nation's ``Top Cop'' awards. NAPO does a great job in picking these
    people for what they have done. It's an honor to shake hands and look
    into the eyes of true American heroes. Nominated by their fellow
    officers, selected from among hundreds of worthy nominees, the ``Top
    Cops'' assembled here today represent America's finest.
        To say that their courage and devotion has gone beyond the call of
    duty is indeed an understatement. From rescuing wounded detention
    officers during a brutal prison riot, to saving hundreds of plant
    workers under threat from a deranged sniper, you have risked your lives
    to protect ours. On behalf of a grateful and admiring Nation, I say
    thank you and congratulations to our ``Top Cops'' and to their families.
        During my time in office, one of the things we've tried to do to
    work with law enforcement is to help to protect our children from the
    horror of accidental deaths from unlocked guns. Communities all across
    our Nation have suffered devastating losses when a child playing with a
    parent's gun accidentally takes the life of a brother, a sister, or a
    playmate. According to a recent study released by the Justice
    Department, 22 million privately owned handguns are kept both loaded and
    unlocked, which helps to explain why every year about 1,500 children are
    treated in hospital emergency rooms for unintentional gun injuries. In
    1994 alone nearly 200 children died from accidental gunshot wounds.
        In March I directed that guns issued to all Federal law enforcement
    officials, including the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, and Customs agents, be
    equipped with child safety locks. And by next week, every agency will
    have fully complied. When I announced this policy, I said if it's good
    enough for law enforcement, it should be good enough for all our
    citizens. Today, because of the voluntary action of the firearms
    industry, millions of our citizens will receive this protection. I'm
    pleased to announce that eight of the largest handgun manufacturers will
    now provide child safety devices with every new handgun they sell. This
    will affect 8 of 10 handguns made in America, and it will save many
    young lives.
        We have today with us leaders of these eight companies: Smith and
    Wesson, Glock, Beretta, Taurus Firearms, Heckler & Koch, H & R 1871,
    SigArms, and O.F. Mossberg & Sons. I'd like to ask them to stand so that
    we can thank them for their commitment. Please stand up. [Applause]
    Thank you very much for your example and your leadership. I hope soon
    our other handgun makers will follow your lead.
        As is well known, this administration and the gun industry from time
    to time have stood on different sides of various issues--the Brady law,
    the assault weapons ban--and there may be other disagreements in the
    future. But today, as has already been said by your representative,
    today we stand together and stand with the law enforcement community to
    do what we all know is right for our children.
        I should add, as the Attorney General has already said, there are
    many Members of Congress who have worked with us to advance this issue
    of child safety locks, and I want to thank them as well.
        Now we must work together to do more to protect our children from
    the scourge of violent crime and especially from crimes committed by
    other young people. This is now my highest

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    law enforcement priority. We must provide for more prosecutors and
    probation officers, tougher penalties, and also better gang prevention
    efforts, including after-school programs, so that these young people
    have something to say yes to and some way of staying out of trouble. And
    we should prohibit violent teenagers from buying guns once they become
    adults. The same proscriptions of the Brady law should apply to them.
        We also, of course, will never be able to supplant the work that
    must be done by parents in working hard to teach their children that no
    matter how hard it is, they must do the right thing and reject the wrong
    course.
        For too many years, our people feared that crime would always grow
    and grow, that nothing could be done to stem lawlessness and violence.
    But working together--police and parents, public officials and
    responsible industry leaders--we are making a difference in the lives of
    our families.
        I especially want to thank, again, the ``Top Cops'' for their truly
    heroic contributions. And through them, I thank all the others who might
    well have been here today but who still do their jobs every day and also
    deserve our thanks, in every community in this country. Because of that
    kind of bravery every day, America is moving forward into a new century
    with safer streets and much, much greater peace of mind.
        Thank you very much, and God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:45 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Thomas J. Scotto, president, and
    Robert T. Scully, executive director, National Association of Police
    Organizations; Raymond W. Kelly, Under Secretary (Enforcement),
    Department of the Treasury; and Richard Feldman, executive director,
    American Shooting Sports Council.