Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee Signed SB359 Surrounded by Gun Violence Survivors, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers
PROVIDENCE — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements after Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed SB359, critical legislation to prohibit the purchase of assault weapons and prevent future mass tragedies in the state. Over the past 12 years, gun safety advocates, including volunteers from Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, have advocated tirelessly for the passage of this legislation.
“Passing a law prohibiting assault weapons in Rhode Island is a lifesaving step forward made possible by a decade of organizing, unwavering advocacy, and commitment to public safety,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “Today is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we come together and focus on what really matters: saving lives. Thank you to Governor McKee for signing this bill into law, and to all the volunteers, survivors, and lawmakers who made this law become a reality.”
“Today, Governor McKee stood with us and every Rhode Islander who wants to live without fear of gun violence,” said Caleb Schultz, a volunteer leader with the Students Demand Action chapter at Brown University. “My generation has watched mass shootings unfold across the country year after year, so being part of the fight to finally ban assault weapons means everything to us. We organized, we rallied, and we testified because we knew our voices mattered. This win proves what’s possible when young people lead–and we’re just getting started.”
Moms Demand Action volunteers turned lawmakers were critical in getting this legislation over the finish line, serving as co-sponsors on the bill and working to build a coalition in support of the legislation. They are part of the 130 Demand a Seat lawmakers currently serving in statehouses across the country who are bringing their lived experience, urgency, and expertise into office to pass the gun safety laws our communities have been demanding for years.
Through the legislative process, the bill was narrowed somewhat from the original language, but make no mistake, the bill passed today is absolutely still a ban on assault weapons.
Here’s what you need to know about SB 359:
- The bill prohibits the manufacture, transfer, and sale of the semi-automatic assault rifles that have been used in the country’s deadliest mass shootings — AR-15s and AK-47s — which account for the vast majority of assault weapons sold today. This bill covers the majority of the assault weapons market.
- If someone wanted an AR-15 or AK-47 rifle after the date of enactment, they would have to purchase one with a fixed magazine — like the models currently sold in Massachusetts and New York. These guns are slower to reload, giving bystanders valuable time to escape a mass shooting situation.
- Semi-automatic rifles are deadly because they fire high-velocity ammunition, are easy to reload, and have shoulder stocks that make them more suitable to use in war, especially when firing rapidly.
- The bill does not address a number of firearms commonly used for self-defense, hunting, and competitive shooting, including most semi-automatic shotguns and pistols.
- This bill is similar to Washington State’s law that bans sales, purchases, and transfers of assault weapons but does not restrict possession.
Mass shootings in which four or more people were killed where an assault weapon was used has resulted in nearly six times as many people shot, more than twice as many people killed, and 23 times as many people wounded on average compared to those that did not involve the use of one. Research shows a prohibition on assault weapons can prevent mass shooting fatalities and active shooter events. More on the critical nature of assault weapons bans can be found here.
Rhode Island is not yet a national leader on gun safety according to the Everytown Gun Law Rankings, ranking 13th in the country and below that of its neighboring states. 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.