FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1997                              (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
             STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO
     ON ARKANSAS' DECISION TO PERMIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
  TO CONTINUE CONDUCTING BACKGROUND CHECKS ON PURCHASERS OF GUNS

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno today hailed
the state of Arkansas' decision to continue conducting background
checks under the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act.  Arkansas
Attorney General Winston Bryant ruled late yesterday that the
Arkansas State Police have the authority to conduct checks, and
that they can charge a fee for them.

     Last month, Arkansas and Ohio halted the practice of
checking the criminal records of gun purchasers after the Supreme
Court ruled that the federal government could not require the
states to conduct them.  

     Reno praised the decision:

     "This ruling will mean safer streets for all Americans,
since illicit guns travel nationwide.

     "While the Supreme Court said the federal government cannot
require states to conduct background checks, states can
voluntarily conduct them on their own.  President Clinton,
Treasury Secretary Rubin and I have urged states to exercise good
law enforcement judgement and keep doing background checks, and
49 states are now doing so.  

     "The Brady Act has prevented more than 250,000 fugitives,
felons, and others from buying from buying guns over the counter. 
I commend Attorney General Bryant for this step forward in
protecting the citizens of Arkansas.  It was a pleasure to work
with him, and I look forward to working with him in the future.

     "Now that Arkansas will be conducting these common sense
background checks, Ohio is the only state in the nation where the
appropriate chief law enforcement officer is not conducting
voluntary background checks.  I continue to work with Ohio
Attorney General Betty Montgomery, and hope to resolve any
outstanding issues in the near future.

     "All Americans--Arkansans in particular--are safer today for
Attorney General Bryant's ruling."  

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