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STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO

WASHINGTON D.C.-- The Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) today released a new report on the number of people prevented from buying handguns during the Brady's Act interim period, March 1, 1994 through November 29, 1998. Attorney General Reno issued the following statement.

"I am so pleased to see the result of this BJS study which shows that during the four years of the Brady Act's interim period, approximately 312,000 felons, fugitives and other prohibited purchasers were prevented from buying handguns.

"Equally gratifying is the success of the Brady Law since the National Instant Check System came on line. BJS estimates, based on data from the FBI and the states, that an additional 90,000 gun sales to prohibited buyers have been stopped since the permanent Brady Act provisions went into effect last November 30.

"What these numbers really mean is that to date, the 1994 Brady Law has kept more than 400,000 guns out of the hands of criminals and others who should not have access to dangerous weapons.

"This week the House of Representatives will consider new legislation on guns. The House has before it a common sense option that would extend the Brady Law to gun shows, closing what has been a dangerous loophole in the law. Members of the House also have before them options which would weaken this effective tool for keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and kids. I hope, as do most Americans, that the House does not undo this law that is so clearly working to make our country a safer place."

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