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White House plans political offensive on gun issuesBy Chris Black/CNN
December 15, 1999 WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With legislation stalled in Congress, President Bill Clinton is taking gun control matters into his own hands. The president has ordered top aides to find ways he can use his executive powers to toughen gun controls with or without the Republican-controlled Congress. "We believe that Congress has frustrated the American public on the issue of gun safety, that we have more than enough evidence that we need to take steps," said White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart. 
White House chief of staff John Podesta convened a meeting Wednesday afternoon to develop a plan of action for gun issues next year. Among the items under consideration are a beefing up of resources for enforcement of gun laws by the Justice and Treasury Departments, and finding creative ways to use executive branch authority to put pressure on the gun industry. "We're going to do everything we can to negotiate with the gun industry, to see whether we can come up with an agreement that leads to safer guns and a more rational, responsible distribution of guns," said Bruce Reed, the president's domestic policy adviser. The Clinton Administration is already supporting the use of lawsuits against gun manufacturers to get changes Congress has refused to mandate. Last week, the White House threatened to file its own suit against gun manufacturers if they don't settle a lawsuit filed by more than 20 big city mayors. "If negotiations are unsuccessful, we are wholly prepared to go to litigation through the housing authorities," said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo. White House officials say the president wants his executive action to prod Republican leaders into taking action on pending gun control legislation. Last May, the Senate narrowly approved modest gun control measures requiring background checks for gun show purchases and child safety locks on new weapons, banning assault weapons for juveniles, and banning the importation of large capacity ammunition clips. Vice President Al Gore cast the deciding vote in the vote on the bill, which was debated after the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado. The legislation also dedicated $1 billion annually for five years for tougher enforcement of violent crimes committed by America's youth, while expanding juvenile crime prevention programs. It also allows for studies on the effects of movies, television and video games on children. But the legislation was not passed by the House, where it was countered by a concerted lobbying effort by the National Rifle Association and its congressional allies. The House defeated the bill after it was amended to include a watered-down version of the background checks at gun shows that was backed by the NRA. Once Democrats lost the vote on the amendment that shortened the waiting period for instant background checks at gun shows from three days to one day, they voted against the underlying gun control bill. But heading into the 2000 election year, White House officials say they want to do everything they can to change the political dynamic so congressional Republicans will approve gun control legislation next year. If Republican leaders refuse, the White House wants to make sure the GOP pays a political price next year at the polls. |
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MORE STORIES:Wednesday, December 15, 1999
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