RI Leaders React To Texas Shooting: McKee Calls For Assault Weapon Ban

RHODE ISLAND — Gov. Dan McKee and other Rhode Island lawmakers have spoken out, calling for state and federal legislation to address gun violence in the wake of Tuesday's school shooting in Texas that killed at least 19 students and two teachers.

Tuesday's shooting is the deadliest at a U.S. elementary school since the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012. A lone gunman, identified by investigators as 18-year-old Salvadar Ramos, entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and killed at least 19 children in the same fourth-grade classroom and two teachers before being killed by police. Ramos also shot and wounded his grandmother earlier that day.

Following President Joe Biden's lead, McKee ordered U.S. and Rhode Island flags be flown at half-staff on all state buildings and facilities. McKee also called for immediate action on gun safety legislation in the Rhode Island General Assembly.

"Too many lives have been tragically cut short by senseless gun violence across our nation — we cannot allow this to continue," McKee said. We need action now, here in Rhode Island and in our nation's capital."

"Last year, I was proud to sign into law the Harold M. Metts School Safety Act and legislation that bans straw purchases of firearms," McKee continued. "However, further action is needed to keep our communities safe. That's why, I joined Rhode Island's General Officers in submitting legislation this session to ban high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. It's time for the General Assembly to act immediately and pass those common-sense gun safety bills and send them to my desk for signature — it is time."

Rhode Island's U.S. senators both called for immediate action at the federal level and pressured Republicans in Congress to work with Democrats to pass "common-sense gun protections."

"We are all too familiar with this kind of tragedy in America," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said. "Uvalde joins a long list of American communities torn apart by gun violence in our schools. The slaughter of our students happens with grim regularity, and it is met with equally grim inaction here in Congress. Those who stand against progress on common-sense gun protections should take stock."

"This was another preventable mass-shooting," Sen. Jack Reed added. "When will my colleagues on the Republican side provides some votes to protect American kids? Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, Parkland and too many others. It is sickening, and it happens because no one on the other side of the aisle is willing to step up and even try to stop it by strengthening background checks and other commonsense measures. And I fear this overly partisan Supreme Court is about to take aim at laws limiting the amounts and types of guns on our streets."

Members of the New England Patriots also shared their grief on social media. "Devastating. Heartbreaking. Unimaginable. Lord, watch over every single person affected by this continued evil. WE NEED CHANGE, NOW!!!" running back Damien Harris said.

"What will it take to change the laws and better prevent this to happen??" safety Adrian Phillips said. "It's Painfully obvious that the current laws don't work."