Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
1252374
label
6/19/75 - Remarks for Crime Message Briefing
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
1252374
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
6/19/75 - Remarks for Crime Message Briefing
citationUrl
collections
President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
subjects
U.S. Congress. (1789 - )
Legislation
Presidential messages
Crime
Speeches, addresses, etc.
White House briefings
Law enforcement
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
1252374
coverageEndDate
day
19
logicalDate
1975-06-19
month
6
year
1975
coverageStartDate
day
19
logicalDate
1975-06-19
month
6
year
1975
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
c4bf2a3c679090b9
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box 10, folder "6/19/75 - Remarks for Crime
Message Briefing" of the President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 10 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
REMARKS FOR CRIME MESSAGE BRIEFING
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1975
- 1 -
TWO MONTHS AGO, AT YALE UNIVERSITY'S LAW SCHOOL,
I SPOKE ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT TOUCHES THE LIVES OF ALL AMERICANS --
CRIME.
TODAY, I AM SENDING THE CONGRESS A SPECIAL MESSAGE
SPELLING OUT IN CONCRETE TERMS THE PROGRAM FOR CURBING CRIME
AND ENSURING DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY WHICH I ADVOCATED IN THAT
SPEECH.
- 2 -
FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR EFFORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED
TOWARD THE PROTECTION OF THE LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN.
FOR TOO LONG,
THE LAW HAS CENTERED ITS ATTENTION MORE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE
CRIMINAL THAN ON THE VICTIM OF THE CRIME.
IT IS HIGH TIME
WE REVERSED THIS TREND AND PUT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ON THE VICTIMS
AND POTENTIAL VICTIMS.
- 3 -
EVEN THOUGH THE CHIEF RESPONSIBILITY IN COMBATTING
CRIME LIES WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CAN PROVIDE LEADERSHIP.
IT CAN IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF EXISTING FEDERAL LAWS AND THE FEDERAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
IT CAN ENACT AND VIGOROUSLY ENFORCE NEW LAWS GOVERNING
CRIMINAL CONDUCT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND IT CAN PROVIDE
FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
IN THEIR EFFORTS TO STEM LAWLESSNESS.
- 4 -
FOR EXAMPLE, I PROPOSE THAT THE CONGRESS ENACT
MANDATORY PRISON SENTENCES FOR FEDERAL OFFENSES COMMITTED
WITH FIREARMS OR OTHER DANGEROUS WEAPONS -- AND FOR HIJACKERS,
KIDNAPPERS, TRAFFICKERS IN HARD DRUGS AND REPEATED FEDERAL
OFFENDERS WHO COMMIT CRIMES OF VIOLENCE.
I URGE STATE
AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO TAKE SIMILAR STEPS.
- 5 -
I AM UNALTERABLY OPPOSED TO FEDERAL REGISTRATION OF GUNS OR
GUN OWNERS. I DO PROPOSE THAT THE CONGRESS ENACT LEGISLATION
TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO USE HANDGUNS FOR CRIMINAL PURPOSES.
I ALSO PROPOSE FURTHER FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS ON SO-CALLED
"SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS."
- -6- -
WE CAN AND MUST MAKE OUR LEGAL SYSTEM WHAT IT WAS
ALWAYS INTENDED -- A MEANS OF INSURING "DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY"
AND MAKING AMERICA SAFE FOR DECENT, LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.
THIS IS A MATTER OF DEEP PERSONAL CONCERN TO ALL
AMERICANS.
so I URGE THE CONGRESS TO REFLECT THIS CONCERN
FOR THE VICTIMS OF CRIME BY ACTING ON THIS MESSAGE IN A PROMPT,
POSITIVE AND NON-PARTISAN SPIRIT.
- 7 -
TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS OF THE CRIME MESSAGE,
I WILL NOW TURN YOU OVER TO ATTORNEY GENERAL EDWARD LEVI.
END OF TEXT