Project Exile: The Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act of 2001

This bill, introduced in 2001, sought to reduce gun violence by providing federal grants to states that implement strict mandatory sentencing laws for firearm-related offenses. To qualify for these funds, states would have to require a minimum five-year prison sentence, without the possibility of parole, for anyone who uses a firearm during a violent crime or serious drug trafficking offense, or for certain repeat offenders found in possession of a gun.

For citizens, the practical impact of this legislation would be an increase in the length of prison stays for gun-related crimes and a shift toward more uniform sentencing across participating states. The bill also intended to fund public awareness campaigns to warn potential offenders of these penalties and provided resources for states to build more prisons, hire additional law enforcement personnel, and improve criminal record-keeping systems. Although the bill was introduced and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, it did not advance further to become law.