FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1997                              (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

             STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO
              ON THE SUPREME COURT'S BRADY DECISION

     WASHINGTON, DC -- Attorney General Janet Reno released the
following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling today on the
Brady Act:

     "The Court has ruled that the federal government cannot
require state, county and municipal officials to conduct the
checks provided for under the Brady law.     The vast majority of
law enforcement officers in this country conduct background
checks under the Brady Act, not because they are required to, but
because it is good law enforcement.  Therefore, this decision
will likely have little impact on law enforcement.  
 
     "Along with Treasury Secretary Rubin, I have written to
police chiefs and sheriffs across the country today, to make sure
they know that Brady background checks can and should continue to
be done by local police on a voluntary basis.  In addition, at
President Clinton's direction, Secretary Rubin and I will convene
a meeting with the nation's law enforcement leaders to review and
develop recommendations, including appropriate legislation, to
ensure background checks will continue to be conducted. 

     "I am confident that responsible law enforcement will
continue to protect the public by conducting background checks. 
Since the Brady law went into effect, more than 250,000 felons,
fugitives and other prohibited persons have been denied handguns. 
The vast majority of law enforcement agencies in America will
continue to run these checks voluntarily because they are saving
lives and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals."  

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