The Nation - News from March 16, 1989

Washington Mayor Marion Barry, trying to curb drug-related crime, signed legislation to strengthen the city’s handgun law, asked police to work six-day weeks, and said he will allow a curfew to become law in a bid to keep most teen-agers off the streets late at night. Barry signed an emergency measure mandating a five-year jail term for anyone convicted of even having access to a gun while committing a crime in the city, and giving judges the option of denying pretrial release of defendants caught with weapons. The handgun law will be in effect for 90 days before being reviewed by the city council.