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White House highlights first 'comprehensive' gun trafficking report

June 21, 2000
Web posted at: 2:47 PM EDT (1847 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House on Wednesday saluted what it calls the first "comprehensive" report on gun trafficking by federal law enforcement, and said the findings support the need for tougher gun laws.

White House highlights first 'comprehensive' gun trafficking report

"Today's report by the Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms demonstrates that our Administration is tough on gun traffickers who peddle guns to criminals and young people," President Bill Clinton said in a statement Wednesday.

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"Through tough enforcement and smart prevention, we have reduced gun crime by 35 percent and increased federal gun prosecutions 16 percent since 1992," he said, but added: "There is more we can do to keep guns out of the wrong hands."

The ATF report indicated that between July 1996 and December 1998, federal agents conducted more than 1,500 gun trafficking investigations, finding more than 84,000 guns were diverted from the legal to the illegal market and were often later used by felons to commit violent crimes.

"Gun trafficking puts thousands of guns onto our nation's streets and contributes significantly to our nation's gun violence," the president said. "The report shows that loopholes in our laws help make gun shows and corrupt gun dealers major channels for gun trafficking."

According to the report, 40,000 firearms were diverted into illegal markets by gun dealers, while nearly 26,000 were associated with gun shows. The report also found that over 25 percent of the diverted firearms were later used in crimes involving assaults; 17 percent involved murders; and more than 16 percent involved robberies.

More than 40 percent of the cases involved convicted felons and over 14 percent involved juveniles.

The ATF said its report "shows a strong record of enforcement against traffickers." Of its 1,530 gun trafficking investigations which have been gone through the courts, 812 defendants received sentences in federal court for a total of 7,420 years in prison.

The president seized on the findings to renew his call for Congress to pass legislation to require background checks for all purchases at gun shows, closing the so-called gun show loophole.

"Congress should move forward to close the deadly gun show loophole once and for all and pass other stalled common sense gun measures without further delay," he said.

Congressional Republicans have argued that instead of new gun restrictions, the administration should seek to fully enforce existing laws. Gun safety legislation has languished in Congress since August 1999. House and Senate lawmakers are at an impasse on the length of time necessary to complete background checks at gun shows.

Republicans contend the background check should take no longer than 24 hours, while Democrats are pushing for a longer period of time -- up to 72 hours -- to complete the check.

Clinton on Wednesday pressed lawmakers to move forward and also to fund his $280 million initiative to pay for more ATF agents and inspectors and to hire more federal, state and local prosecutors.

"Each gun put into the hand of a criminal represents the possibility of one more life lost, one more family destroyed," Clinton said.

The National Rifle Association quickly responded to the administration's contention that the ATF report buttresses arguments for closing the gun show loophole.

"Half the people investigated [in the report] were convicted felons. The problem is not loopholes. The only loophole is the loophole of lack of enforcement. If there are unlawful dealers, traffickers and prospective purchasers, the laws are there, go prosecute them," said NRA spokesman Bill Powers.

"The only loophole is the lack of enforcement by this administration. But rather than focus on that, they want to trump up this issue as a political campaign issue for Al Gore," he added.

 
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Wednesday, June 21, 2000


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