For a short while last week, a quiet hush fell across Washington, D.C. The nation's political leaders paused to observe a moment of silence exactly one week after the tragic school shootings in Littleton, Colorado.
But the President knows that silence won't help end gun violence. That same day, he proposed new gun-control rules. Soon after, lawmakers began arguing about whether the new rules are a good idea.
President Clinton wants to raise the legal age for owning a handgun from 18 to 21. He also demanded prison sentences and fines for grownups who give kids access to guns.
In addition, the President proposed a mandatory three-day waiting period for anyone buying a handgun. He admitted that the added restrictions may be a "hassle" for gun owners. But, he said, "it's worth it. People's lives are at stake."
Still, many gun owners and Republican lawmakers are against making changes to U.S. gun rules. They say the Littleton shootings are a result of many factors besides gun access.
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton acknowledged the difficulty of pinpointing a single cause for the Littleton tragedy. "But that does not mean that we are either hopeless or helpless," she said. "There are some tough steps we must be willing to take if we are going to stop the violence."