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PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES TO PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE
October 15, 1999
In the aftermath of the tragedy in Littleton, the President and the
First Lady called on Americans from all sectors to help prevent youth
violence. Today, President Clinton will announce two new initiatives in
this effort. First, he will unveil a new anti-violence public service
advertising campaign on NBC. Second, the President will announce that
he is creating a new White House Council on Youth Violence to ensure
that the federal government's many efforts in this area are
well-coordinated and serve the public as effectively as possible.
Finally, the President will demand that Congress pass common-sense gun
control measures, noting that Congress has let six months pass since
Littleton and that the American people should not have to wait another
day for such protections.
SPURRING ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY TO HELP PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE
The President will announce that on Monday, October 18, 1999, NBC
will begin airing public service advertisements that focus on the
interconnected issues of youth violence and intolerance. The
advertisements, part of NBC's "The More You Know" public service
campaign, will send messages to parents and students about the
importance of resolving conflicts without resorting to violence, as well
as the message that prejudice and hate are harmful and can lead to
tragic ends. In this effort, NBC is partnering with national
organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, the National Urban
League, the National Council of La Raza, the Human Rights Campaign, and
the Leadership Conference Education Fund. The campaign includes an
Internet site and 1-800 toll-free numbers to link the public to more
information and tools to combat youth violence.
In August, the President announced the formation of a non-profit,
non-partisan National Campaign Against Youth Violence. Today the
President will highlight the National Campaign's initial work to help
communities across the nation stop youth violence.
DIRECTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO ITS PART
Noting that the federal government must do its part, President
Clinton will also announce today that he is issuing an executive
memorandum to create a White House Council on Youth Violence. The
Council will work to coordinate programs throughout the federal
government that address issues of youth violence. The Council will seek
to make these programs more accessible to American families and examine
best practices in addressing the problem. Members of the Council will
include the Attorney General and the Secretaries of Health and Human
Services, Education, and Labor, as well as the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget.
DEMANDING THAT CONGRESS ENACT COMMON SENSE GUN CONTROL LAWS
Finally, the President will demand that Congress meet its
responsibility to help reduce violence and improve public safety by
passing common sense gun legislation. The President will reiterate his
call on the Congress to pass a balanced, bipartisan juvenile crime bill
that includes the Senate-passed gun measures that would: close the gun
show loophole; require child safety locks for handguns; bar the
importation of large capacity ammunition clips; and ban violent
juveniles from owning guns for life. Six months after the tragedy in
Littleton, these life-saving measures are long overdue.