February 4, 2000
Web posted at: 1:32 p.m. EST (1832 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bill Clinton on Friday announced a new executive action to increase oversight of what the administration views as "rogue gun dealers."

Clinton cited a report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms that traced 57 percent of the guns used in crime to 1 percent of the nation's gun dealers.

"In response ... we are beginning the most aggressive effort ever undertaken to ensure responsible behavior by gun dealers," Clinton said about the move, which was immediately dismissed by the National Rifle Association as "a plan to drive gun dealers out of business through arbitrary regulation."

The ATF will subject those dealers to more intense scrutiny, he said.

Clinton called on Congress to increase the number of unannounced inspections the ATF can make of gun dealers from one to three. He also called for the hiring of more ATF agents and inspectors "to crack down on these illegal gun traffickers and gun criminals."

Clinton reiterated the call he made during last week's State of the Union address to require new handgun buyers to have photo licenses issued by states showing they have passed the Brady background check and a safety course.

"This is something new. This is an intensified focus and allocation of enforcement resources in the most effective way," said Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers. The Treasury Department oversees the ATF.

"It's a lot of nothing," said Bill Powers, spokesman for the National Rifle Association. "They already have the authority to do what they say they want to do."

Summers said the approach in this plan could eliminate the deep divide among Americans on the issue of gun control.

"This is not an approach that is in any way punitive with respect to guns in general, but it is an approach of ensuring that our resources are targeted as effectively as possible at reducing the incidence of gun crime."

The call to increase the number of inspections allowed by ATF from one to three per year is a "red herring," Powers said. "If they think there's some suspicious activity going on, they can investigate 365 days a year."

Requiring gun owners to have a photo identification card will not reduce crime, Powers predicted. "I don't think there's a criminal in America who is going to stand in Bill Clinton's or in Al Gore's photo ID line. What's next, a federal photo ID card to go to church? This country is not about licensing people's ability to exercise a civil right."

Clinton's announcement could exacerbate the political tension over pending gun legislation in Congress. Forcing debate and votes on those proposals is a major Democratic election-year priority.

Clinton has increasingly turned to executive orders and other administrative actions in an effort to push administration priorities that are anathema to the Republican congressional majority.

Friday, February 4, 2000

• Presidential campaigns look to the media as race goes national
  
• Bauer ends White House bid
  
• Federal judge orders all Republican candidates onto New York primary ballot
  
• Poll: New Hampshire provides Gore with 13-point bounce over Bradley
  
• Delaware Democrats gear up for weekend primary, sans candidates
  
• Hillary Clinton set to make formal announcement for New York Senate seat
  
• Clinton announces increased oversight of some gun dealers
  
• Clinton proposes holding tobacco industry accountable for teen smoking
  
• Forbes gets enthusiastic reception in rural Delaware
  
• Oklahoma governor apologizes for remark about teachers' union
  
• 'TV season' opens in earnest for presidential candidates
  
• Congressional Progressive Caucus says things aren't so good
  
• Congress considers bill to permanently extend Internet tax ban
  

ARCHIVES