Remarks to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Luncheon in Cleveland, Ohio

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, March 20, 2000

This is all very sensible. It doesn't affect anybody's hunting, doesn't affect any sports shooting. It's no big problem. And all the practical problems can be worked out.

Well, we had a lot of energy after Columbine for doing that. The Senate passed a strong bill, because Al Gore broke a tie vote. The House passed a much weaker bill. But then they were supposed to get together, pass a compromise, agree on provisions, and send it to me. Eight months later, they still haven't met. The committees haven't met. So I ask them to meet.

Now, in the aftermath of the terrible losses in Michigan and Tennessee--little Kayla Rolland--I thought we could have some more energy for doing this. And what happened? The NRA started running all these ads attacking me, personally, which I didn't take personally. I, frankly, was honored by it. But they were--and so I agreed to go on ABC, Sam Donaldson's program Sunday, and answer questions about this. And all I did was to say why I was for closing the assault weapons; why I was for banning these large capacity ammunition clips, the import of them; why I was for closing the gun show loophole; why I was for child trigger locks; and why I thought adults who were knowing or reckless in letting little kids get a hold of guns ought to be held responsible.

And then the head of the NRA came on after me, and he said--I want to read you what he said, just so you'll know that there is a difference here between the two parties, and America has to choose. He says that I am willing to accept a certain level of killings to further my political agenda and Vice President Gore's.

"I believe--I have come to believe that Clinton needs a certain level of violence in this country. He's willing to accept a certain level of killings to further his political agenda and his Vice President's, too."

Now, it's quite one thing to say that when you're on national television. It's another thing to look into the eyes of a parent who's lost a 6-year-old and say that, to visit, as I did, the parents of the Columbine kids, or in Springfield, Oregon, or Jonesboro, Arkansas, and say that.

I want you to know this because I'm not trying to put you in a depressed mood. I'm trying to fire your energy for the coming combat. Maybe he really believes this. But if he does, we've got even more trouble than just a horrible political mistake. We've got to make up our mind as a country.

I'm glad the crime rate is at a 25-year low. I'm glad the gun death rate is at a 30-year low. I don't know a single living American who believes this country is safe enough. The NRA says we ought to prosecute gun crimes more. I agree with that, and we have. They're for holding adults accountable when they recklessly give kids access to guns--good for them. But they're not for anything that is a preventive measure, that might require the slightest effort on the part of the people they propose to represent, even if making that effort lets everybody else live in a safer America. They were against banning cop-killer bullets--and there weren't any deer in the deer woods wearing Kevlar vests.