
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 5, 1993                   TAG: 9311050196
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

SENATE RATIFIES CRIME AMENDMENT

The Senate voted 94-4 late Thursday to pump $22.2 billion into the fight against violent crime, approving a bipartisan amendment to put 100,000 new police officers on the streets and build prisons nationwide.

The bargain between key Senate Republicans and Democrats was struck shortly after the House Judiciary Committee sent the Brady gun control measure to the full House on a vote of 23-12.

The Brady Bill requires a five-business-day waiting period and a background check on would-be handgun buyers. However, it would phase out as criminal records became computerized and instantly accessible. At that point, instant checks would be required before purchases of both handguns and long guns.

The anti-crime agreement, crafted by Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W. Va., to the Senate crime bill, uses an innovative financing mechanism.

The Byrd amendment would set aside the savings the Clinton administration hopes to realize over the next five years by eliminating 250,000 federal jobs and use the money for crime-fighting efforts.

by CNB