Raimondo Introduces Sweeping Gun Reforms On Parkland Anniversary

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- One year after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida killed 17, Governor Gina Raimondo and Attorney General Peter Neronha unveiled a comprehensive legislative package to reform Rhode Island's gun laws.

"It is unacceptable that our children are growing up in a country where they have to worry about gun violence. This is one of the most disturbing and preventable public health crises of this generation, and we owe it to our children to take action," Gov. Raimondo said. "We can't sit back and deny our children the right to safe schools and safe communities. We know that these reforms will save lives."

The legislation would ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and concealed weapons on school grounds. Gov. Raimondo and Neronha were surrounded by the Governor's Gun Safety Working Group, advocates, legislators, community leaders, parents and students during Thursday's announcement.

"There is no one measure, or even set of measures, that will solve the gun violence problem facing this country," Neronha said. "But there are some things we can do to make progress, while respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. The legislation introduced today is an important step forward -- a common sense approach that will make our communities safer."

The Governor's Gun Safety Working Group issued a report in 2018 that called for sweeping changes to gun legislation. The group has 43 members which represent several fields of expertise including public and behavioral health, federal, state and local legislators, members of the education community, veterans, nonprofit organizations and more. Narragansett Town Manager James Manni and Megan Ranney, M.D., an emergency medicine physician, chair the committee. Manni is Raimondo's choice to head the Rhode Island State Police, pending Senate confirmation.

Following the Parkland shooting, Gov. Raimondo signed an executive order establishing a "red flag" policy for gun ownership, the first in the country. The executive order also created the Gun Safety Working Group.

In June 2018, the executive order was solidified into law when Gov. Raimondo signed two bills creating "red flag" laws and banning bump stocks in the state.

Photo Credit: Office of Governor Gina Raimondo