Vol. 30 - No. 6 - Crime Legislation Remains in Limbo on Capitol Hill

Oct 13, 2026

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This issue reports on U.S. crime legislation stalled in Congress, focusing on how tough-on-crime measures from the 1994 Clinton-backed package are being reconsidered by Republicans. Coverage highlights Senate and House debates over repealing the assault-style firearms ban, the influence of the NRA, and potential procedural hurdles such as filibusters. It also details FBI testimony on active international organized crime in the U.S., especially Russian groups, and outlines legislative efforts against them.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Crime Legislation: In Limbo

International Crime Groups: Becoming More Active In U.S.

Quadro Tracker: Fraud Case Gets Murkier

Violence Research: NSF Creates Consortium

Reno: U.S. Expelling Record Number Of Criminal Aliens

Washington State: Cordless Calls Protected

Baltimore: Downtown Under Camera Surveillance

San Francisco Area: Bomb Reports Double

G.P. Technology: Expected To Save Lives

D.C. Police: Criticized By U.S. Attorney

Special Events: NUTI Offers Training

Vol.30 No.6 CRIME LEGISLATION REMAINSINLIMBO ON CAPFTOL HILL Sounding tough on crime is usually a goodtactic for politicians in a nation that spends a for-tune on car alarms and dead-bolt locks.But therealso is pressure in Congress to repeal the ban oncertain types of assault-style weapons. The Democrats lost control of Congress inthe 1994 elections even after they--with the help ofa few Republicans--passed a $30 billion anti-crimepackage pushed by President Clinton.The lawcalled for 100,000 new cops on the beat,imprison-ing criminals for life on their third felony andbuilding new prisons,among other things. This year,the pending crime legislationconsists of leftover Republican "Contract WithAmerica"measures,many of which would disman-tle the 1994 law.One GOP proposal would replacethe cornerstone of the 1994 law--Clinton's 100,000police program--with block grants to local authori-ties. Some of these provisions are included in abill that Senate Judiciary Committee ChairmanOrrin Hatch is touting as the main anti-crimemeasure for 1996:anti-terrorism legislation thatwas initially sought by Clinton. Presidential campaigns often sway election-year agendas in Congress,but most of the candi-dates have been relatively silent on new anti-crimeinitiatives.And the measure most apt to affectpolitical fortunes this year is the proposed repeal ofthe assault-style firearms ban,the most controver-sial provision of the 1994 law. Almost all the Republican candidates,per-haps mindful of the National Rifle Association's See CRIME BILL,page two) ISSN 0011-1295 February 9,1996 IN THIS ISSUE CRIME LEGISLATION:In Limbo… … …1 INTERNATIONAL CRIME GROUPS: Becoming More Active In U.S. … … ……1 QUADRO TRACKER:Fraud Case Gets Murkier………3 VIOLENCE RESEARCH:NSF Creates Consortium..…4 RENO:U.S.Expelling Record Number Of Criminal Aliens……………… …5WASHINGTON STATE:Cordless Calls Protected……….6BALTIMORE:Downtown Under Camera Surveillance...7SAN FRANCISCO AREA:Bomb Reports Double…….8 G.P.TECHNOLOGY:Expected To Save Lives………9 D.C.POLICE:Criticized By U.S.Attomey………………10SPECIALEVENTS:NUTI Offers Training…… …10 INTERNATIONAL CRIME GROUPSACTIVE IN U.S.,FBI SAYS Crime organizations from all over the worldhave operatives inside the United States,but themost dangerous are the Russians,an FBI officialtold Congress on Jan.31. "If they continue in the United States un-checked,I think there's a possibility they couldbecome the major threat to us because of theexpansion they're doing across the border in alltypes of organized crime activity and in drug-traf-ficking activity,"said Jim Moody,a deputy assist-ant director of the FBI's Criminal InvestigativeDivision. (See CRIME GROUPS,page two) CRIME BILL,from page one) (NRA)powerful influence in the last elections,have urged an overturn of the ban that affects 19specific styles of firearms and dozens of similarweapons. Both Senate Majority Leader Robert Doleand House Speaker Newt Gingrich promised theNRA they would hold votes on it last year.Fornumerous reasons,including the Oklahoma Citybombing and the budget standoff,it did not comeup in either the House or the Senate. "Mother Of All Filibusters Overturning the ban is the NRA's top legislativepriority,even though Tanya Metaksa,executive directorof its lobbying arm,concedes the battle is unwinnablewhile Clinton is president.But the NRA is demanding avote to make sure the candidates that it supported aretoeing the line. "Our members who were active in the 1994 elec-tions need to know the people they helped have stuck totheir original promise to repeal the Clinton gun ban,"Metaksa said Feb.6."I am optimistic that there will bea vote in the House."She is less certain of a Senatevote. If the repeal does reach the Senate floor,Sen.Dianne Feinstein(D-Calif.)has promised "the mother ofall filibusters"to stop it,requiring repeal supporters tomuster 60 votes,an unlikely prospect. 6 Dole,aware of

FAQs

What congressional issue is highlighted as being stalled in this edition?

The proposed crime legislation, especially efforts to repeal the 1994 assault-style firearms ban, is described as remaining in limbo in Congress.

How did the 1994 anti-crime package shape current debate?

The 1994 law established major elements such as new policing and long-term imprisonment provisions, and the current proposals aim to dismantle parts of it.

What does the FBI testimony say about international organized crime in the U.S.?

The FBI official testifies that crime organizations from around the world operate in the United States, with Russian groups described as among the most dangerous due to their expansion and involvement in organized crime and drug trafficking.

Oct 13, 2026

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