Bob Barr: “I commend you for bringing H.R. 4051 the ``Project Exile; Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act'' to the House Floor for a…”

“I commend you for bringing H.R. 4051 the ``Project Exile; Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act'' to the House Floor for a vote. Project Exile is an extremely successful program that drastically reduces gun violence, and needs to be expanded throughout the United States. This project, run by the U.S. Attorney's office, is credited with substantially reducing violent crime in Richmond, Virginia. Under ``Exile,'' all felons, without exception, who illegally possess firearms are prosecuted and sentenced to stiff, federal mandatory prison terms. The program publicly and visibly advertises the new sentencing procedure, to further deter the illegal possession of firearms, and emphasizes joint, coordinated prosecution involving federal, state, and local police and prosecutors. The program proves that when political debates about gun control take a back seat to coordinated, consistent and aggressive enforcement of existing laws, violent crime is dramatically reduced and lives saved. ``Project Exile'' sends a clear message to criminals, that having an illegal firearm will earn a swift and tough sentence in federal prison. Under this plan, the efforts of prosecutors, backed by a community advertising plan, has made it common knowledge on the streets of Richmond that felons caught with firearms will be swiftly ``exiled'' to federal prison for a minimum of five years. We know the vast majority of gun violence is committed by individuals with prior felonies.”