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Bush mobilizes against gun violence

SONYA ROSS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Promising to be a ”determined adversary” to gun violence, President Bush announced plans Monday to mobilize federal and local prosecutors who will focus exclusively on gun-related crimes.

The president unveiled his proposal at a police promotion ceremony as part of National Police Week. He said the violent crime rate in the United States declined by 20 percent between 1989 and 1999 but still remains too high; 12,658 people were murdered in the United States in 1999, two-thirds of them by firearms.

”For every fatal shooting, there are roughly three nonfatal shootings. Folks, this is unacceptable in America,” Bush said. ”We’re going to do something about it.”



With dozens of uniformed police officers assembled behind him on a riser, Bush said he will launch ”Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a two-year, $550 million effort that involves hiring 113 new assistant U.S. attorneys and 600 state and local prosecutors to work with police agencies and community groups on gun cases.

”It will send an unmistakable message: If you use a gun illegally, you will do hard time,” Bush said. ”We’re going to reduce gun violence in America, and those who commit crimes with guns will find a determined adversary in my administration.”


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