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1993-02-24
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02/22/1993 By ROBERT SHEPARD
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Encouraged by President Clinton's strong
support, backers of the Brady Bill announced Monday the start of
what they hope will be a final, successful effort to enact a law
requiring a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases.
"Here we go again," said Sarah Brady, whose husband James was
seriously wounded in the assassination attempt against President
Ronald Reagan.
She noted supporters of the bill were begining the seventh year
of their effort and dealing with a new Congress, but said she felt
this time "is the charm."
Rep. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., House sponsor of the bill, told a
crowded news conference, "This is the last time we're going to have
to do this because it's going to pass this time."
Clinton, in his address to Congress last week, pledged to sign
the bill if it reaches his desk.
Schumer said it was "the first time in 12 years we have a partner
in the White House...willing to work on arms control -- domestic
arms control."
The Brady Bill is intended to keep criminals and mentally unfit
persons from buying handguns. It requires a five-day waiting period
so a background check can be made on potential buyers.
Despite support for the bill among police groups and others,
opponents have managed to block its passage. In the last Congress,
the bill became hostage to the debate over a comprehensive
anti-crime bill and both measures died.
Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, warned that opponents would again
try to tie it to the crime bill, but urged them fight the bill "on
its merits" and "not make this a Christmas tree bill" with a host of
unrelated amendments.
Metzenbaum said he was "confident" there are enough votes in the
House and Senate to pass the bill this year.
Senate Democratic leader George Mitchell, of Maine, said he will
introduce on Wednesday the same version of the Brady Bill that
received 67 votes in the Senate in 1991.
Noting Clinton's pledge to sign a bill if Congress sends it to
him, Mitchell said, "Mr. President, we mean to do just that."
The new push for passage of the bill stressed its importance to
children, many of whom are victims of guns.
Nearly 4,000 children were murdered in 1991 -- 18 percent of all
the homicide victims, Brady noted. "Almost one of every five murder
victims was under the age of 20."
"I'm not here to ask Congress to help me. But do it for our
kids... They deserve a future. And we owe it to them to see they
have one," Brady said.
The news conference included two 16-year old students from
Washington schools, each of whom had a friend who was killed by
gunfire.
"Please pass the Brady Bill and start saving lives," said Julian
Rowand, of St. Albans School for Boys, who was joined in the plea by
Margaret Childers, a student at Georgetown Day School.