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

DATE: SUNDAY, October 23, 1994                   TAG: 9410240071
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SAN FRANCISCO                                LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL GUN BAN SIGNED

Tying the two themes together, Clinton told high school students in a packed gymnasium, ``We have to prove ... we can still give our kids an old-fashioned, safe upbringing and a good education.''

Clinton sought to boost his own political standing and the chances of the candidates for whom he campaigned with a three-day swing through California, Washington state and Ohio.

As one of his first acts of the trip, the president signed an executive order requiring school districts to expel for at least one year any student who brings a gun to the classroom. He said the government would terminate funding to states that don't force school districts to comply, although there could be some exceptions.

The directive simply clarifies the intent of a new law, but it allowed Clinton to address voter disgust with mounting crime, a key issue in the midterm elections.

``Young people simply should not have to live in fear of young criminals who carry guns to school,'' he said at Carlmont High School. ``We cannot operate in a country where children are afraid ... You cannot learn in that kind of atmosphere.''

As the students cheered and stamped their feet in the bleachers, Clinton said, ``You must say no to guns, no to gangs, no to drugs - yes to education, yes to hope and yes to your own future.''

With elections two weeks away, the president and his party face the loss of several seats in Congress and perhaps control of the House and Senate.

Earlier Saturday, he used his weekly radio address to chide Republicans for their ``Contract with America,'' a campaign wish list that promises support of the balanced-budget amendment and congressional term limits.

Clinton said the contract would cut taxes for the wealthy, trim Medicare and reduce education programs, including a new loan program that makes it easier for middle-class Americans to repay their college debts.

``We can't give in to easy promises,'' he said.

In a Republican response, Rep. John Kyl, who is seeking the Senate seat in Arizona, accused the Clinton administration of trying to solve America's problems ``through higher taxes ... [and] big government spending.''