Fighting to Reduce Gun Violence in Rhode Island
Our coalition of more than 100 partner organizations includes over 120,000 Rhode Islanders united in the effort to reduce gun violence.
Kudos to Students From Across the State as They Continue to Take Action for Common-Sense Gun Safety Reforms in 2018!
Our Youth Engagement Strategy has organized a coalition of young people from all areas of Rhode Island to make the hard work of grass-roots organizing fun and exciting!
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.
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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.
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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 News, Politics, Incidents and Statistics
RICAGV Gun Safety Endorsed Candidates
Gun safety reform champions for the 2018 primary and general election.
Warwick Resident Shot Through Front Door
The suspect was taken into custody shortly after the incident; it is unclear at this point if the victim and the shooter are acquainted.
Representative Katherine Kazarian
RICAGV endorses incumbent Democrat Katherine Kazarian for House District 34.
Representative Teresa Tanzi
RICAGV endorses incumbent Democrat Teresa Tanzi for House District 34.
Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee
RICAGV endorses incumbent Democrat Carol Hagan McEntee for House District 33.
Youth Empowerment Strategy Unveiled
YES!RI is statewide network that partners with established student groups as well as the RI ACLU to effectively combat gun violence in Rhode Island.
2018 Session Wrap Up: Big Gains for Common-Sense Gun Violence Reforms
Legislative success and phenomenal organizational and grassroots growth in 2018.
Final Lobby Day of 2018 a Huge Success
Another great turnout for lobbying lawmakers on The Safe Schools Act.
RICAGV Statement on HB 8119 – Legalizing Civilian Ownership of Stun Guns (Tazers)
RICAGV joins with public health officials and law enforcement in opposition to the legalization of stun guns (tazers); these same officials are in support of The Safe Schools Act, which is still being held for study by the Judiciary Committee.
RI Students to Legislators: We Are Not Targets
RI students do it again! Kudos to all the kids who showed up to protest the inaction of the RI legislature for 4 years in a row.
RICAGV Canvasses Speaker’s District on Gun Violence Prevention Awareness Day
RICAGV supporters took action on National Gun Violence Prevention Awareness Day for all victims and their families by canvassing RI Speaker Mattiello’s district in Cranston.
49 Motorcycle Gang Members Arrest in Pre-Dawn Drug Bust
Biggest bust in RI State Police history included 53 illegal guns and large quantities of illegal drugs.
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.
RICAGV Gun Safety Endorsed Candidates
Gun safety reform champions for the 2018 primary and general election.
read moreWarwick Resident Shot Through Front Door
The suspect was taken into custody shortly after the incident; it is unclear at this point if the victim and the shooter are acquainted.
read moreRepresentative Katherine Kazarian
RICAGV endorses incumbent Democrat Katherine Kazarian for House District 34.
read more