NEW YORK – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund announced a new political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing and defending gun sense lawmakers in the Rhode Island Legislature in their fight to make Rhode Island communities safer from gun violence.
“This new effort is the next phase in Everytown’s decade-long effort to cement the Ocean State as a national leader on gun safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Rhode Island voters are looking for leaders who will take action to keep their families safe from gun violence, and we’re doing everything in our power to help those candidates win.”
“Our gun sense lawmakers in Rhode Island have demonstrated time and time again that they are committed to putting our safety first, and we’re prepared to support them in every way we can so that progress on gun safety continues,” said Amy Herlihy, a volunteer with the Rhode Island chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Last year, our lawmakers enacted a lifesaving secure storage law and we know that they’re coming back to Providence this year prepared to fight for even more lifesaving legislation. We’re grateful to have them as partners in the fight against gun violence, and we are excited to see how we can continue to make Rhode Island safer for generations to come.”
In the 2024 elections, gun sense majorities were reelected to both chambers of the Rhode Island legislature, maintaining a gun sense trifecta alongside the Governor’s office. Elected officials in the Rhode Island legislature include five Moms Demand Action volunteers-turned-electeds.
Last year, Rhode Island lawmakers enacted a secure storage law, expanding and strengthening the previous statewide firearm storage law by requiring all gun owners to securely store their guns when not in use, either in a locked container or with a safety device that prevents unauthorized access. In addition, it also requires gun dealers to both post signs and give information to people who purchase guns about secure storage, suicide prevention, and Rhode Island’s gun safety laws; it also requires school districts to give similar information to students and their families. In an average year,
52 people die by guns in Rhode Island and another 119 are wounded by guns. 61 percent of gun deaths are by firearm suicide in Rhode Island. Gun violence costs Rhode Island $752.1 million each year, of which $15.8 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Rhode Island is available here.