The Rhode Island chapter of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement in response to reports of a standoff involving a man barricaded in his home in a Providence neighborhood. Police say the man fired hundreds of rounds at police and had a number of assault-style rifles in his possession at the time of the incident.
“Horrifying instances like this make Rhode Islanders feel unsafe in their own homes. It is time for the General Assembly to act to stem the flow of extremely lethal, high-powered firearms and high capacity magazines into our communities,” said David Leach, a volunteer with the Rhode Island chapter of Moms Demand Action. “As gun violence in Providence and across the state continues to devastate communities, we must continue our fight to make Rhode Island a safer place for us all.”
Currently, the Rhode Island General Assembly is considering a package of important gun safety bills, including H 6614 and S 2224 / H 6615. H 6614 would prohibit the sale and possession of high capacity magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition, and S 2224 / H 6615 would prohibit the sale, transfer, or possession of assault-style weapons throughout the state.
Information about gun violence in Rhode Island is available here.