Clinton invites Hollywood, NRA to session on youth violence

April 30, 1999
Web posted at: 3:06 p.m. EDT (1906 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton said today he will convene a White House strategy session with representatives of the Internet and entertainment industries, the gun lobby, government and the clergy to build a national movement against youth violence.

The session, a response to last week's Colorado school shooting, is slated for May 10.

"We need nothing less than a grass-roots effort to protect our children and turn them away from violence," Clinton said in a Rose Garden announcement. 

"If citizens, parents and children alike working together in their communities can reduce teen pregnancy, reduce drunk driving, make seat-belt use nearly universal, then working together we can protect our children." 

Clinton emphasized that he wanted gun manufacturers and gun owners, whose political lobbies have bitterly fought him on gun-control legislation, to be part of the White House discussion. 

"Let's bury the hatchet and build a future for our children together," he offered.

Earlier today, in an interview broadcast on NBC's "Today," Clinton made clear that he would not limit any White House youth violence summit to the influence of the entertainment industry. 

"What should we do about guns? What should we do about culture? What should we do about the schools? How can we help the parents? And, what is government's responsibility? Those are the big questions. We should ask and answer all of them -- not just one," Clinton said on the television program. 

Members of Congress asked Clinton earlier this week to convene an emergency summit of entertainment industry executives to address the kind of youth rage that erupted at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. 

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