http://www.algore2000.com/agenda/protecting_our_children_from_gun_violence.html
As a member of Congress, and as Vice President, Al Gore has fought to keep dangerous guns out of
the hands of criminals. He supported a ban on assault weapons, worked to craft a compromise on
the Brady Bill, and has fought for additional penalties for gun-related crimes. In addition, the Vice
President has been a vocal advocate for eliminating guns in our schools.
PROPOSING NEW MEASURES TO GET GUNS OFF THE STREET
Gore Has Proposed A Comprehensive Plan to Get Guns Off Our Streets. In a speech to the
Boston Police Department, Vice President Gore announced his comprehensive plan to end
gun violence. As part of this plan, a Gore Administration will:
Require Photo Licensing for Handgun Purchases. Al Gore will seek a nationally
mandated, state-run system of photo licensing for all potential hand gun purchasers.
Under the Gore proposal, anyone who wants to buy a handgun would have to have a
license that would prove they are eligible to own a handgun (having passed a
background check to prevent felons and the mentally ill from buying guns and
demonstrated knowledge of gun safety).
Ban “Junk Guns.” Al Gore believes that we should ban so-called “junk guns,” the
cheap handguns so often used in violent crimes.
Increase Gun-Related Criminal Penalties. Al Gore will work to increase penalties for
gun-related crimes, including the use of a gun in a violent crime, illegal gun
trafficking, and for knowingly selling a gun to someone ineligible to purchase one. In
addition, Al Gore will provide grants to states to develop systems that will help to end
plea bargaining for criminals who use a gun in a crime.
Limit Gun Sales to One-a-Month and Require a Three Day Waiting Period for
Purchases. Al Gore believes that a one-gun-a-month limit and a three day waiting
period for gun purchases are reasonable measures that can help reduce the number
of guns on the street.
Close the Gun Show Loophole. Al Gore will continue to fight to close the loophole that
has allowed gun shows to be exempt from the Brady Law.
Require Child-Safety Locks on Hand Guns. In an effort to save the lives of thousands
of children, Al Gore will work to require child-safety locks on handguns.
Oppose Special Legal Protections for Gun Manufacturers. Al Gore will oppose efforts
to provide special legal protections for gun manufacturers.
Oppose Weakening Restrictions on Concealed Weapons. Al Gore will oppose efforts to
loosen existing limits on concealed weapons.
Improve Efforts to Trace Gun Ownership. Al Gore will require gun manufacturers and
federally-licensed sellers to report gun sales to a state authority. This requirement
would greatly assist law enforcement in tracing ownership of guns if they are used in a
crime.
WORKING TO CLOSE THE GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE
Gore Cast the Tie-Breaking Vote to Close the Gun Show Loophole. Vice President Gore cast
the tie-breaking vote to pass Senate legislation to close the loophole in existing law that has
allowed gun shows to be exempt from the Brady Law, and to require background checks on
individuals who seek to retrieve their own guns from pawn shops. Following Gore’s dramatic
vote, Sarah Brady of Handgun Control Inc. wrote to the Vice President thanking him for his
“continued leadership,” stating that “…once again you have come through at a crucial time for
the cause of gun violence protection.”
SUPPORTING A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS
Gore Voted to Ban 9 Types of Assault Weapons. As a Senator in 1990 and 1991, Al Gore
supported legislation that would have banned the manufacture and importation of nine
assault style weapons.
Gore was Instrumental in Securing Passage of the 1994 Crime Bill. As Vice President, Gore
fought to enact the landmark 1994 Crime Bill, which included a provision banning nineteen
types of assault weapons. As Gore told CNN: “We've got an epidemic of violent crime and a
lot of members of the NRA have told me, these assault weapons weren't made for hunting
deer or squirrels or for homeowners...They shouldn't be in the hands of our children on the
streets of our cities.”
SUPPORTING THE BRADY LAW
Gore Praised by Sarah Brady for His Leadership in Supporting Brady Bill. In 1991, Sarah
Brady of Handgun Control Inc. praised then-Senator Al Gore for his leadership in supporting
the Brady Bill. As an original cosponsor of the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act, Gore
worked with Senators Mitchell, Kohl, and Biden to craft a compromise that helped include
Brady Bill as part of the 1991 Crime Bill. However, the Crime Bill died after a Republican-led
filibuster of the bill.
Brady Bill Became Law Under the Clinton-Gore Administration. The Brady Bill was eventually
enacted as a stand-alone bill during the Clinton-Gore Administration, helping to block the
sale of more than 400,000 handguns.
SUPPORTING TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR GUN-RELATED CRIMES
Gore Cosponsored Mandatory Minimums for Use of “Cop Killer” Bullets. In 1984, Gore
cosponsored a bill to impose mandatory 5-year terms for those using armor-piercing bullets
during the commission of a federal crime. That same year, he also co-sponsored a bill to
provide for mandatory 15-year sentences for “armed career criminals.”
Gore Supported Tougher Sentences for Criminals Using Guns to Commit Crimes. As a
Senator, Gore voted for a proposal to establish mandatory minimums for those who use or
possess a firearm during violent or drug-related crime. Later that year, Gore voted for the
Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1991, which also included provisions to toughen penalties for
using a gun during violent crimes and gun possession by felons.
Gore Supported the 1994 Crime Bill which Increased Penalties for Gun-Related Crimes. The
Vice President was a vocal advocate of the landmark 1994 Crime Bill, which increased criminal
penalties for a number of gun-related crimes. The 1994 law increased penalties for interstate
gun trafficking, for using semiautomatic weapons in violent or drug trafficking offenses, and
for making false statements when purchasing guns from federally licensed dealers. In
addition, the law authorized the federal death penalty for murders committed with a gun
during a federal drug or violent crime. Additionally, the 1994 Crime Bill strengthened federal
requirements for obtaining a license to sell firearms.
WORKING TO REDUCE CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO GUNS
Gore Worked to Get Guns Out of Our Schools. In early 1994, Vice President Gore encouraged
Congress to pass legislation that will help take guns out of schools. Congress later adopted,
and the President signed, the Gun-Free Schools Act, which required all states that receive
federal education funding to adopt policies requiring a mandatory 1-year expulsion for any
student who brings a gun to school.
Fighting to Keep Handguns Out of the Hands of Our Youth. Vice President Gore and the
Administration are fighting to pass the Youth Gun Crime Enforcement Act. This proposal by
the Administration would:
Raise the minimum age to possess a handgun from 18 to 21.
CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS THESE YOUTH TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN AT A
GUN SHOW OR AN UNLICENSED DEALER EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD NOT DO SO FROM
A LICENSED DEALER.
Prohibit juveniles from possessing assault rifles and large capacity ammunition
feeding devices that were manufactured before the effective date of the assault
weapons ban in 1994. Current law only prohibits these youth from possessing assault
pistols.
An Advocate for Child Safety Locks. For nearly two years, Al Gore has been advocating
mandatory child safety locks to protect children from handguns. While the Administration
reached an agreement with a majority of gun manufacturers to voluntarily include gun locks
in the sale of new guns, Gore believes further protections are needed and should be
required. That is why he has called upon Congress to pass legislation that would require all
guns that are sold to have a child safety lock.
SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO BUY BULLET-PROOF VESTS
The Clinton-Gore Administration Helped Law Enforcement Receive Critical Bullet-Proof
Vests. In 1997, Congress passed, and the President signed, the Bullet-proof Vest
Partnership Grant Act to help state and local governments buy bullet-proof vests for their law
enforcement officers. The Act authorizes up to $25 million a year for three years for a 50-50
matching grant program to help fund the purchase of the vests. In addition to encouraging
Congress to pass the bullet-proof vest act, the Vice President has also called for legislation
that will increase the sentence for federal crimes committed while wearing a bullet-proof vest.
STANDING UP TO THE GUN INDUSTRY
Gore Supports the Rights of Cities to Hold the Gun Industry Responsible. Vice President Gore
supports the rights of local governments to sue gun manufacturers and sellers. Over the past
year, several local governments – including New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami-Dade
County – have filed lawsuits attempting to hold the gun industry responsible for the damage
created by their products.
As a member of Congress, and as Vice President, Al Gore has fought to keep dangerous guns out of
the hands of criminals. He supported a ban on assault weapons, worked to craft a compromise on
the Brady Bill, and has fought for additional penalties for gun-related crimes. In addition, the Vice
President has been a vocal advocate for eliminating guns in our schools.
PROPOSING NEW MEASURES TO GET GUNS OFF THE STREET
Gore Has Proposed A Comprehensive Plan to Get Guns Off Our Streets. In a speech to the
Boston Police Department, Vice President Gore announced his comprehensive plan to end
gun violence. As part of this plan, a Gore Administration will:
Require Photo Licensing for Handgun Purchases. Al Gore will seek a nationally
mandated, state-run system of photo licensing for all potential hand gun purchasers.
Under the Gore proposal, anyone who wants to buy a handgun would have to have a
license that would prove they are eligible to own a handgun (having passed a
background check to prevent felons and the mentally ill from buying guns and
demonstrated knowledge of gun safety).
Ban “Junk Guns.” Al Gore believes that we should ban so-called “junk guns,” the
cheap handguns so often used in violent crimes.
Increase Gun-Related Criminal Penalties. Al Gore will work to increase penalties for
gun-related crimes, including the use of a gun in a violent crime, illegal gun
trafficking, and for knowingly selling a gun to someone ineligible to purchase one. In
addition, Al Gore will provide grants to states to develop systems that will help to end
plea bargaining for criminals who use a gun in a crime.
Limit Gun Sales to One-a-Month and Require a Three Day Waiting Period for
Purchases. Al Gore believes that a one-gun-a-month limit and a three day waiting
period for gun purchases are reasonable measures that can help reduce the number
of guns on the street.
Close the Gun Show Loophole. Al Gore will continue to fight to close the loophole that
has allowed gun shows to be exempt from the Brady Law.
Require Child-Safety Locks on Hand Guns. In an effort to save the lives of thousands
of children, Al Gore will work to require child-safety locks on handguns.
Oppose Special Legal Protections for Gun Manufacturers. Al Gore will oppose efforts
to provide special legal protections for gun manufacturers.
Oppose Weakening Restrictions on Concealed Weapons. Al Gore will oppose efforts to
loosen existing limits on concealed weapons.
Improve Efforts to Trace Gun Ownership. Al Gore will require gun manufacturers and
federally-licensed sellers to report gun sales to a state authority. This requirement
would greatly assist law enforcement in tracing ownership of guns if they are used in a
crime.
WORKING TO CLOSE THE GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE
Gore Cast the Tie-Breaking Vote to Close the Gun Show Loophole. Vice President Gore cast
the tie-breaking vote to pass Senate legislation to close the loophole in existing law that has
allowed gun shows to be exempt from the Brady Law, and to require background checks on
individuals who seek to retrieve their own guns from pawn shops. Following Gore’s dramatic
vote, Sarah Brady of Handgun Control Inc. wrote to the Vice President thanking him for his
“continued leadership,” stating that “…once again you have come through at a crucial time for
the cause of gun violence protection.”
SUPPORTING A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS
Gore Voted to Ban 9 Types of Assault Weapons. As a Senator in 1990 and 1991, Al Gore
supported legislation that would have banned the manufacture and importation of nine
assault style weapons.
Gore was Instrumental in Securing Passage of the 1994 Crime Bill. As Vice President, Gore
fought to enact the landmark 1994 Crime Bill, which included a provision banning nineteen
types of assault weapons. As Gore told CNN: “We've got an epidemic of violent crime and a
lot of members of the NRA have told me, these assault weapons weren't made for hunting
deer or squirrels or for homeowners...They shouldn't be in the hands of our children on the
streets of our cities.”
SUPPORTING THE BRADY LAW
Gore Praised by Sarah Brady for His Leadership in Supporting Brady Bill. In 1991, Sarah
Brady of Handgun Control Inc. praised then-Senator Al Gore for his leadership in supporting
the Brady Bill. As an original cosponsor of the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act, Gore
worked with Senators Mitchell, Kohl, and Biden to craft a compromise that helped include
Brady Bill as part of the 1991 Crime Bill. However, the Crime Bill died after a Republican-led
filibuster of the bill.
Brady Bill Became Law Under the Clinton-Gore Administration. The Brady Bill was eventually
enacted as a stand-alone bill during the Clinton-Gore Administration, helping to block the
sale of more than 400,000 handguns.
SUPPORTING TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR GUN-RELATED CRIMES
Gore Cosponsored Mandatory Minimums for Use of “Cop Killer” Bullets. In 1984, Gore
cosponsored a bill to impose mandatory 5-year terms for those using armor-piercing bullets
during the commission of a federal crime. That same year, he also co-sponsored a bill to
provide for mandatory 15-year sentences for “armed career criminals.”
Gore Supported Tougher Sentences for Criminals Using Guns to Commit Crimes. As a
Senator, Gore voted for a proposal to establish mandatory minimums for those who use or
possess a firearm during violent or drug-related crime. Later that year, Gore voted for the
Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1991, which also included provisions to toughen penalties for
using a gun during violent crimes and gun possession by felons.
Gore Supported the 1994 Crime Bill which Increased Penalties for Gun-Related Crimes. The
Vice President was a vocal advocate of the landmark 1994 Crime Bill, which increased criminal
penalties for a number of gun-related crimes. The 1994 law increased penalties for interstate
gun trafficking, for using semiautomatic weapons in violent or drug trafficking offenses, and
for making false statements when purchasing guns from federally licensed dealers. In
addition, the law authorized the federal death penalty for murders committed with a gun
during a federal drug or violent crime. Additionally, the 1994 Crime Bill strengthened federal
requirements for obtaining a license to sell firearms.
WORKING TO REDUCE CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO GUNS
Gore Worked to Get Guns Out of Our Schools. In early 1994, Vice President Gore encouraged
Congress to pass legislation that will help take guns out of schools. Congress later adopted,
and the President signed, the Gun-Free Schools Act, which required all states that receive
federal education funding to adopt policies requiring a mandatory 1-year expulsion for any
student who brings a gun to school.
Fighting to Keep Handguns Out of the Hands of Our Youth. Vice President Gore and the
Administration are fighting to pass the Youth Gun Crime Enforcement Act. This proposal by
the Administration would:
Raise the minimum age to possess a handgun from 18 to 21.
CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS THESE YOUTH TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN AT A
GUN SHOW OR AN UNLICENSED DEALER EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD NOT DO SO FROM
A LICENSED DEALER.
Prohibit juveniles from possessing assault rifles and large capacity ammunition
feeding devices that were manufactured before the effective date of the assault
weapons ban in 1994. Current law only prohibits these youth from possessing assault
pistols.
An Advocate for Child Safety Locks. For nearly two years, Al Gore has been advocating
mandatory child safety locks to protect children from handguns. While the Administration
reached an agreement with a majority of gun manufacturers to voluntarily include gun locks
in the sale of new guns, Gore believes further protections are needed and should be
required. That is why he has called upon Congress to pass legislation that would require all
guns that are sold to have a child safety lock.
SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO BUY BULLET-PROOF VESTS
The Clinton-Gore Administration Helped Law Enforcement Receive Critical Bullet-Proof
Vests. In 1997, Congress passed, and the President signed, the Bullet-proof Vest
Partnership Grant Act to help state and local governments buy bullet-proof vests for their law
enforcement officers. The Act authorizes up to $25 million a year for three years for a 50-50
matching grant program to help fund the purchase of the vests. In addition to encouraging
Congress to pass the bullet-proof vest act, the Vice President has also called for legislation
that will increase the sentence for federal crimes committed while wearing a bullet-proof vest.
STANDING UP TO THE GUN INDUSTRY
Gore Supports the Rights of Cities to Hold the Gun Industry Responsible. Vice President Gore
supports the rights of local governments to sue gun manufacturers and sellers. Over the past
year, several local governments – including New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami-Dade
County – have filed lawsuits attempting to hold the gun industry responsible for the damage
created by their products.
