December 20, 1999
Web posted at: 11:53 a.m. EST (1653 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Clinton Administration will ask for $20 million in next year's budget -- double the amount in the fiscal year 2000 budget -- to fund a program that helps law enforcement officials solve crimes simply by analyzing the bullets or shell casings found at a crime scene, according to White House domestic policy advisor Bruce Reed.

Reed told CNN that this is "another sign" that the administration is "serious about enforcing the laws against gun criminals," and represents an opportunity for the gun industry -- and the government -- to work together.

One major gun manufacturer, Glock, is already working with the government to develop "fingerprints" of the bullets and shell casings for every 9mm handgun test fired in its manufacturing process, Reed said.

The administration proposal will beef up funding for what is called ballistic testing, a crime-fighting tool that helps police use the fingerprints of bullets or shell casings found at a crime scene to figure out the type of guns that were used and the criminals who used them.

According to an administration fact sheet obtained by CNN, the plan will merge the ballistic testing done by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and triple the number of law enforcement jurisdictions able to access the information, enhancing the crime-fighting abilities of 230 local law enforcement agencies around the country.

Ballistic testing by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has advanced more than 16,000 criminal investigations of gun crimes in over 40 states, according to the administration.

The administration says use of ballistics technology helped the New Orleans Police Department solve a string of brutal murders in the city.

The White House is redoubling its efforts on gun-related issues. Earlier this month, the White House indicated it was prepared to back a national class action lawsuit on behalf of public housing authorities against the gun industry, if gun manufacturers didn't begin negotiations with the cities and counties that have filed suit.

Reed said the administration met with representatives of the cities and the state attorneys general this week, and that the White House, along with cities and states, are expected to begin negotiations with the gun industry in January.

He added that one of the items discussed as part of any potential settlement was for gun manufacturers to participate in a national ballistic testing system, just as Glock currently is doing now.

Monday, December 20, 1999

• Juanita Broaddrick sues Clinton Administration over alleged 'smear campaign'
• Video: Bush, Gore fight insurgent rivals
• Clinton shops online for the first time
• Gore's international affairs knowledge has plusses, minuses
• McCain, Forbes favor keeping 'don't ask, don't tell' policy
• Des Moines Register: Campaign cash -- Who gets what, and from whom?
• Clinton Administration wants to double funding to trace gun criminals
• Reagan's condition deteriorates
• Des Moines Register: Candidate mates tread lightly
• Bush says he doesn't believe federal report on Texas hunger
• Trump to visit Ventura in January
• McCain criticizes Clinton's national forest order
• McCain addresses health care, terrorism
• McCain works on tax break package for teachers
• Searching for a way to make history forget impeachment
• From White House to schoolhouse, billionaire exerts power behind the scenes
• Bradley support rising in Iowa, new poll says
• Gore repeats no ad offer, Bradley repeats "no"
• McCain campaign raises $1 million in a week
• Barbara Bush says keep abortion off party platform

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