    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [April 4, 2000]
    [Page 618]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Maryland State Action on Gun Safety Legislation
    April 4, 2000

        Last night the Maryland Legislature took an important step forward
    to address the problem of gun violence by passing commonsense gun
    legislation. I commend the Governor and
    the legislature for their efforts to enact key gun safety measures that
    will, among other things, require built-in child safety locks on
    handguns, ballistics testing for newly manufactured handguns to help
    solve more gun crimes, and safety training for handgun purchasers.
        Maryland joins a growing number of States across the country that
    are taking actions to make guns safer and to keep guns out of the wrong
    hands. The Congress should follow their lead and make passage of
    commonsense gun legislation its top priority. I challenge the Congress
    to enact gun safety legislation before the one-year anniversary of the
    Columbine tragedy on April 20th.