WWW.USDOJ.GOV

STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO

WASHINGTON D.C.-- "I want to take a moment to comment on yesterday's terrible shooting in Littleton, Colorado.

"It is impossible to make sense of a tragic event like this. Any time the sound of gun fire rings out in our halls of learning, it rips through the very fabric of our society.

"As a nation, we are touched by the pain of the innocent victims, their families and friends, the students, teachers and staff of Columbine High School, and the community as a whole. Our hearts go out to all the people of Jefferson County.

"Today, I want to praise local law enforcement, support services and the faith community which responded so quickly and ably yesterday. At the request of the local authorities, FBI and ATF agents have been in Littleton providing assistance. We have teams of victims' counselors standing by. We have let the community know that the Departments of Justice and Education will provide whatever resources they may need.

"What we must do now is learn from this tragedy and use the lessons to help prevent future tragedies.

"Although it comes as little comfort at a time like this, we must remember that schools are still among the safest places for America's children. Only 10 percent of public schools report any serious violent crime. But we all know that even that small percentage is far too great.

"Just over one year ago, I traveled to Jonesboro, Arkansas to attend a memorial service in the wake of another terrible school shooting. I was saddened as I mourned with the people there, but I was also inspired by their strength of spirit, their faith in each other, and their belief in hope and healing.

"Spurred by the memory of those who died in last year's school shootings, we redoubled our efforts to stop school violence. But yesterday's shootings are a sad reminder that even those efforts may not be enough.

"We must mourn, and then we must do even more to solve this problem. We owe it to those who suffered so terribly yesterday and to those who live wherever else guns have shattered lives and broken the peace and quiet of our schools and communities."

###

99-147