Project Exile Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act of 2001

H.R. 534, the Project Exile Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act of 2001, proposes a federal grant program to encourage states to adopt stricter sentencing laws for gun-related offenses. Under this bill, states would receive federal funding if they mandate a minimum five-year prison sentence, without the possibility of parole, for individuals who use or carry a firearm during a violent crime or a serious drug trafficking offense.

For citizens, the practical impact of this legislation would be a shift toward more uniform, mandatory penalties for firearm offenses across participating states. The bill also provides funding for public awareness campaigns to warn potential offenders of these penalties and supports the expansion of local law enforcement, court systems, and correctional facilities to handle the increased sentencing requirements.