May 20, 1999
Web posted at: 9:44 p.m. EDT (0144 GMT)

LITTLETON, Colorado (AllPolitics, May 20) -- President Clinton urged the students of Columbine High School Thursday to use the spotlight drawn to their community by tragedy to create a better future for all children across the nation.

"What happened to you has pierced the soul of America," Clinton told the students during a visit to Littleton. "And it gives you a chance to be heard in a way no one else can be heard ... by the president and by ordinary people in every community in this country."

As the president began his speech at Littleton's Dakota Ridge High School, hundreds of Columbine students greeted him with a rousing and deafening chant in pep-rally fashion. "We are Columbine! We are Columbine!" they shouted as the president smiled in delight.

"I am impressed that you are moving forward," Clinton responded. "I am proud of all of you .... I have to say I think that what has impressed me most is the way in the midst of this you have held on to your faith."

The visit by President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton came one month to the day after the Columbine massacre.

On April 20, Columbine seniors Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17 -- armed with guns and bombs -- killed 12 classmates and a teacher and wounded more than 20 other people before killing themselves.

The president's pre-scheduled visit also came on a day when a student in a southern school allegedly opened fire on his classmates. Six students were wounded in the shooting spree at a Conyers, Georgia, high school.

Clinton: 'You can help us'

The president said Columbine's story of death and courage and faith has provoked him and others to launch a national campaign to prevent violence against young people.

"You can help us keep guns out of the wrong hands," the president told the students.

"Because of what you have endured, you can help us build that kind of future," Clinton said. "You can reach across all the political, and religious, racial and cultural lines that divide us."

Meanwhile, back in Washington, the Senate narrowly passed a Democratic proposal to place restrictions on arms sales at gun shows and pawn shops, with Vice President Al Gore casting the deciding vote.

The amendment, sponsored by New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg, was split 50-50 and the tie was broken by Gore, who traveled to Capitol Hill to preside over the vote.

"I applaud the Senate for today's historic vote to close the gun show loophole and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children," Clinton said in a statement.

The measure requires mandatory background checks for guns bought at gun shows. There is evidence that several of the weapons used by Harris and Klebold were acquired at gun shows.

Remembering the dead

Before speaking to the student assembly, the president and first lady met privately at the Light of the World Catholic Church with the families of those killed in the Columbine massacre.

The Clintons moved from table to table, embracing a few of the grief-stricken family members. The president thanked them for sharing their stories and pictures that commemorated the lives of the children they lost.

The family of the late John Tomlin, who was 16 when he died in the shooting, did not attend.

Hidden sadness and fear

A month after the attack, the Columbine High School looks deserted.

A few investigators are still working the crime scene, but the building is empty of students. They are finishing the academic year at another school and, for seniors, classes are already over.

Graduation ceremonies will be held in an outdoor amphitheater this weekend.

But for many of those touched directly or indirectly by the massacre, such signs of life returning to normal mask hidden sadness and fear.

"The important thing that we tell children and families, is that whatever reaction they are having, it's normal," said Jo Anne Doherty of the Jefferson Center for Mental Health.

Correspondent Tony Clark and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Thursday, May 20, 1999

• Senate passes juvenile crime bill
• Transcript: Senate Democrats, Gore celebrate 'gun-show loophole' vote
• Roll call on gun background checks
• Clinton praises Columbine students for keeping faith
• Senators pass $15 billion spending bill for Kosovo, storm victims, farmers
• Report: China benefited from stolen nuclear secrets
• Congress considers how to keep kids from Web's dark side
• House vote sends missile defense bill to president
• Mrs. Dole logs on for Web site chat
• Nebraska Legislature passes nation's first moratorium on executions
• President renominates Shelton as Joint Chiefs chairman
• House committee to schedule Social Security hearings
• Private school tax breaks measure clears Senate panel
• Clinton education plan denounced
• Alexander keeps going despite polls
• Forbes' New Hampshire campaign manager resigns
• Brother of presidential candidate sought by police

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