    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [January 2, 1999]
    [Page 2]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Decline in the National Murder Rate
    January 2, 1999

        The Justice Department study on homicide trends released today shows
    that America's murder rate has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years,
    with much of the decline coming from the drop in youth gun homicides.
    Our cities are now the safest they have been in a generation. With the
    help of the '94 crime act, cities have replaced gang and gun violence
    with more police and tougher gun enforcement, and their efforts are
    paying off in dramatic decreases in homicides. A variety of studies show
    that crime, and especially homicide, should continue to decline into the
    new year, and that is good news for Americans in 1999. But we have more
    to do, and we must stick to our plan. We must finish the job of putting
    100,000 more police on our streets, putting tougher laws on our books,
    and providing better opportunities for our young people.

    Note: This statement was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on December 31, 1998, but was embargoed for release until 4:30
    p.m. on January 2, 1999.