Frank Lautenberg: “In proposing the Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination Act, my intent was to make our streets safer, particularly…”

“In proposing the Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination Act, my intent was to make our streets safer, particularly in federally-assisted and low-income housing where the federal government has a clear responsibility to protect families. And that intent is reflected in the statutory language, 42 U.S.C. Section 11902(a), which provides that HUD is to make grants available for use in 'eliminating drug-related and violent crime.' Certainly, violent crime includes all of the offenses involving guns, whether it is murder, robbery, or gang-related activity. In short, gun buybacks are an eligible activity under the Act, and HUD has acted properly in assisting housing authorities and local communities with this important effort. Furthermore, HUD's efforts to combat gun violence have been very successful. HUD's Gun Buyback and Violence Reduction Initiative has taken about 18,500 guns off the streets in more than 70 cities, and this program has received strong support from community organizations and law enforcement. Every year, gun violence claims an average of 30,000 lives and wounds another 100,000 people.”