[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

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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.