[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 19 (Monday, May 17, 1999)]
[Pages 888-889]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Departure for Seattle, Washington

May 14, 1999

Senate Action on Gun Control Legislation

    Good morning. It is now clear that the tragedy at Littleton has 
helped to create a broad national consensus that we must act

[[Page 889]]

together to protect our children from violence, including taking efforts 
to keep guns away from children and away from criminals. The question is 
whether Congress will write that national consensus into law or block 
it. Thus far, the Senate has not fully lived up to its responsibility.
    I am very pleased that on Wednesday a bipartisan majority in the 
Senate passed two important measures I proposed 2 weeks ago. First, they 
agreed to ban the import of high-capacity ammunition clips that are used 
to evade the 1994 ban on assault weapons. Second, they agreed to ban 
juvenile possession of semi-automatic assault weapons and large-capacity 
magazines, weapons used--designed only for mayhem. There's no good 
reason for a child to own an AK-47 or a 15-round ammo clip.
    I applaud the Senate for taking these two steps. However, on 
Wednesday a narrow majority squandered an important opportunity to close 
the gun show loophole through which tens of thousands of guns are sold 
each year without background checks. Yesterday I called on the Senate to 
reconsider that vote. It makes no sense to let criminals continue to use 
legitimate gun shows as a convenience store for their weapons.
    Today the Senate will vote again on a measure purporting to address 
this issue. However, the new Senate Republican bill is still riddled 
with high-caliber loopholes. It won't stop criminals from buying guns at 
gun shows. At the same time, it will open up a new pawn shop loophole 
that lets convicted felons get guns at a local pawn shop. That's 
actually worse than current law.
    I simply can't believe the Senate will make the same mistake twice. 
So once again, I ask them to reject this phony proposal and to pass real 
legislation that requires the background checks necessary to prevent 
criminals from buying guns at gun shows which they cannot buy at gun 
stores. This should be a moment for national unity.
    I was so pleased today to receive a letter from the major gun 
manufacturers reiterating their support for our efforts to pass real, 
enforceable, mandatory background checks at gun shows. They recognize 
that law-abiding citizens don't need a gun show loophole, only criminals 
do.
    For 6 years, we have made strong, steady progress against crime by 
elevating results over ideology. Today we have a chance to put aside 
partisanship, political divisions, and draw special interest power that 
has dominated our politics on this issue for too long. For the sake of 
our children, I hope the Senate changes its mind and does the right 
thing.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 8:45 a.m. in the South Portico at the White 
House.