    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 51 (Monday, December 27, 1999)]
    [Page 2651]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Gun Control Legislation

    December 21, 1999

        Today Senator Schumer released an important new report that shows us
    how vital it is for us to change the way the gun industry does business.
    The report contains more evidence that a very small proportion of gun
    dealers is linked to a very high proportion of crime guns traced by
    police. It also shows that most of the guns that end up in the hands of
    criminals first pass through a middleman--for instance, a straw
    purchaser or an illegal gun trafficker. That is why I have pushed
    Congress to pass commonsense gun measures to crack down on traffickers
    who supply guns to criminals. And that is why my administration has
    begun to engage the gun industry on a range of steps the industry itself
    can take.
        Thanks to the Brady law, our increased support for State and local
    law enforcement, and other steps we've taken, gun violence in America is
    down. But no one believes it is down far enough. The message of today's
    report is simple: It's time for Congress and the gun industry to help
    clamp down on bad dealers and stem the flow of guns to criminals. It's
    time for Congress and the gun industry to help us make our country
    safer. I hope this report will help push that cause forward.