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STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Senate today passed an amendment that will require background checks at all gun shows across the country. Attorney General Janet Reno, who publicly called upon the Senate to take this step, today issued the following statement hailing the passage of the Lautenberg-Kerrey Amendment:

"I am so pleased the Senate came together today in a spirit of bipartisanship to make our nation safer. The gun show loophole has been making it easy for felons, fugitives and other prohibited persons to buy deadly weapons -- no questions asked.

"Today's common sense vote means the gun show loophole will be closed once and for all -- no ifs, ands, or buts. No longer will a convicted felon be able to walk into a local gun show, place a few dollars on a table and walk out with an assault rifle.

"In the past six months, the Brady background checks have stopped an estimated 80,000 felons, fugitives and other prohibited persons from buying guns. Today's measure can only help to ensure that the historic , 7-year drop in crime continues .

"I am hopeful that the bipartisanship demonstrated today will continue when the Senate votes on the Juvenile Justice Bill and when this legislation moves over to the House of Representatives. I look forward to working with Speaker Hastert, Minority Leader Gephardt, Judiciary Chairman Hyde, Representative Conyers and others on this important issue. This bill will protect our children and our communities, and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and others who should not have them."

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