Schakowsky wrote that the Clinton Administration entered into an agreement with Smith & Wesson where “the company agreed to make major changes in the design, distribution and marketing of guns to keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals.”  In exchange, governments and local housing authorities would give preference to Smith & Wesson products when making purchases for their police departments.

Schakowsky warned that gun manufacturers who opposed this agreement have already dropped lawsuits in anticipation of the reversal of the policy by the Bush administration. She urged the Administration to support and work with responsible gun manufacturers to protect families from gun violence.

Below is her letter to President Bush.

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C.  20500-0003
 

Dear President Bush:

I urge you to maintain HUD’s agreement with Smith & Wesson aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of children and criminals.

As you know, under then Secretary Andrew Cuomo, HUD and many local and state governments reached an agreement with America’s largest gun manufacturer-Smith & Wesson-under which the company agreed to make major changes in the design, distribution and marketing of guns to keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals.  In exchange, governments and local housing authorities would give preference to Smith & Wesson products when making purchases for their police departments.  There should be no question that this effort will reduce the gun violence that causes the deaths of twelve children a day in this country.

Gun manufacturers that opposed this program and refused to enter into similar agreements promptly filed suit to block this initiative.  Recently, however, those gun makers have dropped their suit in anticipation of your Administration reversing this policy and refusing to enforce the agreement.  One executive, Paul Jannuzzo of Glock, Inc, was quoted in the 1/6/01 Atlanta Journal and Constitution as saying “In effect, it’s over.”

I understand that we may have differing views over whether new gun control laws are needed to stem gun violence.  However, I do not believe there is any debate that something has to be done to protect our families from gun violence.  Smith & Wesson has taken such action.  We, in turn, should be supportive.  Purchasing our public safety equipment from Smith & Wesson, and equally responsible gun manufacturers, ought to be the first step in that support.  Again, I hope that the industry is mistaken and urge you to stay the course in reducing gun violence.

Sincerely,

Jan Schakowsky
Member of Congress