Gov. Raimondo Declares June 7 'Gun Violence Awareness Day'

Governor Gina Raimondo signed a proclamation on Friday officially declaring June 7 as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Rhode Island. She was joined at the signing by a Las Vegas shooting survivor and a woman who lost her daughter to gun violence.

"Gun violence has taken thousands of innocent lives, destroyed families and devastated communities across the country," Gov. Raimondo said. "It's past time for our leaders to act, and I'm continuing to fight for common-sense gun safety measures here in Rhode Island."

Throughout her tenure as governor, Raimondo has been a vocal supporter of gun reforms, signing a so-called "red flag" executive order in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting that was later codified into law by the General Assembly and pushing for the passage of a law to take guns away from convicted domestic abusers. She has also supported a bill to ban 3D printed "ghost guns," which was passed by the Senate on Wednesday night.

In 2011, Diana Garlington lost her daughter Essence to gun violence in Providence. Since then, she has been a vocal advocate for gun control.

"I knew I had to speak up and tell my story. It's hard, but it would be a hundred times harder to sit back and stay silent," Garlington said on Friday.

East Greenwich native Erica Keuter, meanwhile, is a survivor of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, the most deadly event of its kind in American history. 58 people were killed and hundreds more were injured.

"I saw things that I never want anybody else to see, especially my children," Keuter said. "Thoughts and prayers are not enough for survivors and victims anymore."