Fighting to Reduce Gun Violence in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence is a coalition of more than 100 partner organizations, including over 120,000 Rhode Islanders united in the effort to reduce gun violence.
Hundreds Attend the Safe Schools Act Rally and Press Conference
Thanks to all who attended this important event.
Let’s keep the momentum going at the MARCH FOR OUR LIVES PROVIDENCE on March 24th.
2018 Legislative Agenda
We’re working hard to pass common sense legislation to help keep Rhode Island citizens and law enforcement officers safer.
Safe Schools Act
Keeping kids and teachers safe by prohibiting guns on all school grounds except by police or resource officers.
Students, parents, and teachers don’t want guns in our schools.
LEARN MORE…
No High Capacity Mags
Making it harder for mass killers to massacre people by banning firearm magazines with more than 10 rounds.
RI Police Chiefs Support Common Sense Gun Safety Laws.
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Assault Weapons Ban
Stepping in where the federal government is failing with a ban on assault-style weapons.
Gun violence drops dramatically when assault rifles are banned.
LEARN MORE…
Protect Rhode Island Families Act
Signed into law by Governor Gina Raimondo in October 2017.
Congratulations to our bill sponsors and all of our members, volunteers, and partners – it wouldn’t have been possible without you!
The Protect Rhode Island Families Act has eliminated federal and state legislative gaps that had made it harder to protect victims of domestic violence and their families.
Overwhelming Support for Gun Control in Rhode Island
The corporate gun lobby would have everyone believe that even the most sensible gun regulation represents a direct attack on the Second Amendment. Rhode Islanders know better, favoring gun violence reduction laws that are in line with academic and law enforcement recommendations and also respecting Second Amendment rights.
Rhode Islanders Are Not Fooled By Propaganda
A 2016 poll in Rhode Island asked registered voters if they would support common sense legislation that would protect victims of domestic abuse, keep our children safer, and ban high capacity magazines, the weapon of choice for mass shooters; large majorities favored these updates to our current law. As expected, national and local corporate gun lobbies are against these reasonable measures.
92% in Favor
Restricting guns for domestic abusers and requiring them to surrender their guns to reduce subsequent attacks on their victims.
As of October 2017 R.I. is now in-step with federal law and dozens of other states that restrict access to firearms for these abusers; these laws clearly keep victims safer:
- Victims of domestic violence are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if the abuser owns a firearm
- States that restrict access to firearms by domestic abusers see a 25% reduction in intimate partner gun deaths
83% In Favor
Restricting guns on all elementary and secondary school grounds except by police, retired police, and resource officers.
Concealed Carry Permit (CCP) holders cannot be counted on to save lives and often put themselves and others in danger when they attempt to confront an active shooter.
- The large majority of CCP holders do not have specialized “shoot/don’t shoot” training
- Since 2007 at least 921 non-self defense gun deaths have been caused by CCP holders
75% in Favor
Banning high capacity magazines with more than 10 rounds (the weapon on choice for mass shootings).
Local, state and national law enforcement are strongly against high capacity magazines (HCM), citing increased shootings and deaths being committed by individuals using HCM.
In addition, most of the recent mass shootings used HCMs that allowed the firing hundreds of bullets in minutes, including:
- Las Vegas concert
- Orlando night club
- San Bernardino holiday party
- Sandy Hook Elementary School
Recent Gun Violence and Statistics in the U.S.
16 Representatives on the Fence
The Safe Schools Act and the Assault Weapons Ban are in Jeopardy
Dramatic Rise of Assault Weapons and High Capacity Firearms in Crime
An updated examination of resources reveals dramatic increase in the use of high capacity semiautomatic weapons in crimes overall.
Teacher Fires Gun in Georgia High School Classroom
School goes into lockdown when a teacher, with no indication of being troubled or unfit for his job, fires a gun on campus.
Maine Voices: Speaking Out for Common Sense Gun Control
A timely and informative piece from Maine about Second Amendment myths.
Mass Shooting at High School in Florida Kills 17, Injuries More than 14
A former student kills 17 and injures more than 14 with assault-style weapons.
American Gun Ownership Correlates with High Gun Violence and Deaths
Data shows the strong correlation of gun ownership and gun violence and death in America, and it far exceeds all other wealthy nations.
Concealed Carry of Firearms: Facts vs. Fiction – John Hopkins University, November 2017
2017 study shows 11 to 14% higher violent crime rates by years 7 through 10 following the adoption of Right to Carry laws.
More Than 2 Dozen Killed in Texas Church by Gunman
The killer used a military-style assault rifle, a Ruger’s AR-15, and was clad in a ballistic (bullet-proof) vest.
Higher Murder Rates with Easy Concealed Carry Laws
Significant increases in firearm-related homocides in states with easy CCP laws have been documented in an October 2017 study published in the American Journal of Public Health.
59 Dead, Over 500 Injured in Las Vegas Mass Shooting
The shooter maximized his killing ability by using easily accessible weapons that allow the firing of hundreds of rounds in minutes.
Firearm Deaths Now Neck-in-Neck with Motor Vehicle Deaths
Automotive deaths have dramatically decreased thanks to research-backed public policy initiatives, but gun deaths have been steadily increasing.
Busting the Good Guy with a Gun Myth
The “more guns equals less violence” is being accepted, despite strong empirical evidence to the contrary.
Fighting to Reduce Gun Violence in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence is a coalition of almost 100 partner organizations whose memberships include more than 120,000 Rhode Islanders united in the effort to reduce gun violence.
2018 Legislative Agenda
No Guns in Schools
Keeping kids and teachers safe by prohibiting guns on all school grounds except by police or resource officers.
No High Capacity Mags
Making it harder for mass killers to massacre people by banning firearm magazines with more than 10 rounds.
Protect Rhode Island Families Act
Signed into law by Governor Gina Raimondo in October 2017. Congratulations to our bill sponsors and all of our members, volunteers, and partners – it wouldn’t have been possible without you!
Rhode Islanders Overwhelmingly Support Gun Control
In a 2016 poll of registered R.I. voters, large majorities supported common-sense legislation to reduce gun violence.
92% in Favor
Restricting guns for domestic abusers and requiring them to surrender their guns to reduce subsequent attacks on their victims.
83% In Favor
Restricting guns on all elementary and secondary school grounds except by police, retired police, and resource officers.
75% in Favor
Banning high capacity magazines with more than 10 rounds (the weapon on choice for mass shootings).
Recent Gun Violence and Statistics in the U.S.
16 Representatives on the Fence
The Safe Schools Act and the Assault Weapons Ban are in Jeopardy
read moreDramatic Rise of Assault Weapons and High Capacity Firearms in Crime
An updated examination of resources reveals dramatic increase in the use of high capacity semiautomatic weapons in crimes overall.
read moreTeacher Fires Gun in Georgia High School Classroom
School goes into lockdown when a teacher, with no indication of being troubled or unfit for his job, fires a gun on campus.
read more