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." # # # 97-308