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STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER

WASHINGTON, DC - The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released two reports today on Federal Firearms Offenders and Background Checks for Firearm Transfers. The Deputy Attorney General issued the following statement:

"Over the past seven years this Administration has implemented a national strategy to reduce crime and gun violence in this country. This strategy has proven effective and has made our streets and communities safer.

"Our strategy includes increased coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement, a focus on the most serious violent offenders, a steady increase in total firearms prosecutions and sentences, and effective measures to prevent gun violence before it occurs. The BJS reports provide data on parts of our strategy which further document its effectiveness.

"The number of violent crimes committed with firearms in the United States is 35 percent lower today than it was in 1992. Our goal of increased punishment for gun offenders is being realized. Since 1992, the total number of state and federal weapons prosecutions has increased more than 22 percent. The number of federal criminal cases brought under the two primary provisions of the Gun Control Act was nearly 16 percent greater in 1999 than in 1992.

"Consistent with the statistics we released in January of this year, the BJS report shows that the number of defendants charged with all types of federal gun crimes is on the rise. Despite a drop in the mid-1990's, preliminary data for 1999 indicates that the number of people charged with federal gun crimes in 1999 should be equal to the number of people charged in 1992, even though there has been a dramatic drop in gun crimes during that same period.

"Under our strategy, law enforcement authorities have worked together to ensure that the most serious criminals are treated most severely. The number of firearm offenders sent to federal prison for more than 5 years is up more than 41 percent. The average sentence for federal firearms offenders increased nearly 2 years between 1992 and 1998. When the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in 1995 limiting their ability to use one of the most powerful charges under the Gun Control Act, federal prosecutors compensated by increasing the use of sentencing guideline enhancements against violent offenders. The use of this enhancement increased 31 percent between 1995 and 1998.

"Of course, our strategy does not rely merely on punishing offenders after crimes have been committed. We are also working to implement measures to prevent gun crimes before they occur. New data released by BJS today shows that by the end of 1999, federal and state authorities working together to implement the Brady Law had stopped 536,000 felons, fugitives, domestic abusers, and other persons not legally allowed to have a gun from getting a gun.

"Despite our success, we must not become complacent. There are still 89 Americans -- including 12 young people - dying every day from gunshot wounds. We must continue our efforts to prevent crime and gun violence and our tough enforcement strategies at the federal, state and local level."

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