    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [August 5, 1999]
    [Page 1387]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Proposed Juvenile Crime Legislation
    August 5, 1999

        Months after the tragedy at Columbine and the day before they are
    set to recess, Congress will finally begin the conference on juvenile
    crime legislation. Let's show our children that, when it comes to their
    safety, Washington will not take a break. I urge the conferees to stay
    in Washington and finish work on the bill during the August recess. This
    is a vital opportunity to take commonsense steps to keep guns out of the
    wrong hands, prevent youth violence, and steer young people away from
    crime. They should send me a balanced and bipartisan juvenile crime
    bill, with the Senate-passed gun provisions, so we can give our Nation's
    parents more peace of mind as our children return to school.