    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [June 13, 2007]
    [Page 742]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the ``Report to the President on Issues Raised by the
    Virginia Tech Tragedy''
    June 13, 2007

        Shortly after the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech, I directed
    Secretary Michael Leavitt, Secretary
    Margaret Spellings, and Attorney General
    Alberto Gonzales to examine the broad
    and complex issues raised by this tragedy. I asked them to determine how
    the Federal Government could best help to support State and local
    efforts to ensure that our communities, including college campuses, are
    safe. They responded quickly, traveling to a dozen States to hear from
    Governors, law enforcement officials, mental health professionals,
    educators, and other State and local officials.
        They learned a great deal and today presented me with their key
    findings. I look forward to reviewing their recommendations in more
    detail, but a few points are immediately clear: Information sharing
    among the health care, law enforcement, and education communities must
    improve; those groups must better understand the Federal laws related to
    information sharing; and accurate, complete information sharing between
    States and the Federal Government is essential in helping to keep guns
    out of the wrong hands and to punish those who break the law.
        I thank Secretaries Leavitt and
    Spellings and Attorney General
    Gonzales for their fine work on this
    important report.
        With the findings in this report in mind, I am closely following
    legislative efforts to strengthen the instant background check system. I
    look forward to working with Congress on this effort.