Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Thursday, October 3, 2002

KANSAS CITY, MO - Senator Kit Bond today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved $340,000 to address gun violence in Kansas City.

“We must send a message to perpetrators of violent crime that their actions will be punished swiftly and strongly,” said Bond. “I am pleased to announce dollars to help the community address the problem of gun-related violent crime in Kansas City.”

The DOJ’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Media Outreach and Community Engagement program will send the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission a $340,000 grant. The funds will be used to reduce gun-related violence through a number of strategies including literature production and distribution, radio and tv advertising, workshops and mailing campaigns.

The PSN is a comprehensive strategic approach to reducing gun violence in America. The Media Outreach and Community Engagement program is one of four components under PSN. The Media/Community component aims to aggressively promote the message that all firearm-related violent crime will be met with strict enforcement and swift and certain punishment; to encourage community involvement to address firearm-related crime; and to promote gun safety at the local level.

Kit Bond is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee. Also, he served Missouri twice as Governor and now continues his service to Missourians in the United States Senate.