gun control

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse: Don't Balance Budgets With Cuts to Social Security

Scott MacKay — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:26:41 +0000

As immigration legislation makes its way through the Senate, Rhode Island Public Radio’s Scott MacKay talks with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse about the immigration bill, and what happened to the gun bill that went down in the Senate.

Republicans Push Back on Gun Control Proposal

Flo Jonic — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:30:20 +0000

Republican lawmakers are taking aim at a package of gun control bills proposed Tuesday by Governor Lincoln Chafee and legislative leaders.

Among other things, the new laws would ban the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons and high capacity magazines. State Representative Doreen Costa of North Kingstown questions the constitutionality of the bills.

Lawmakers to Unveil Gun Legislation

Ian Donnis — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:04:59 +0000

State officials plan to roll out a package of bills Tuesday in an attempt to reduce gun-related violence. Lawmakers and law enforcement officials have been discussing the issue since January.

Rhode Island is among the states considering more stringent gun laws after the school shooting last year in Newtown, Connecticut. The local response will come in a package of nine bills. The proposals are expected to include such topics as background checks, weapons sales, and mental health.

Sen. Jack Reed: Background Checks Need to Stay in the Bill

Catherine Welch — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:46:34 +0000

Senator Jack Reed says he thinks background checks would be effective in curbing gun violence. The New York Times reports that opposition to background checks is holding back federal gun control legislation.

Reed says he hopes background checks stay in the bill. “You know if we can’t get the background checks through there’s not much we’re doing in response to one of the great tragedies of recent years,” says Reed.

School Safety Returns to Spotlight

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:48:26 +0000

Rhode Island lawmakers will consider legislation Wednesday aimed at increasing safety measures in public schools. The bills, now in the House and Senate Education Committees, would require school and law enforcement officials to work together to look for weaknesses in building security and craft new school safety plans.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Lydia Rogers — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:39:05 +0000

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse talks proposed gun control legislation. Students ask adults to take the NECAP test. These stories and more on the RIPR morning news podcast.

Plus, Moderate Party founder Ken Block is this week's guest on the Political Roundtable.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

Brown Brings National Gun Debate to RI

Elisabeth Harrison — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:26:28 +0000

Brown University kicks off a lecture series on gun violence today with a talk from Carl Bogus, professor of law at Roger Williams University Law School. Bogus will discuss efforts to reduce crime and the effects guns and gun crime have on communities.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Lydia Rogers — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:40:50 +0000

Higher education is bracing for possible cuts in research funding. A representative of the NRA says RI does not need any more regulation to control gun violence. These stories and more on the RIPR Morning News Podcast. Plus...

The list is long of potential implications to RI if the so-called sequestration kicks in, from longer lines at the airport to job loss to less educational research. Scott MacKay reviews what might be in our future.

Guns and lies

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:10:30 +0000

No word yet on how Rhode Island might address the growing debate about gun control and violence prevention. My colleague Ian Donnis and I have been covering the issue (see some related stories, below), and so far we know there's talk of proposing legislation (no details yet) and a vague working group of lawmakers and policymakers discussing the issues. Those issues probably include Rhode Island's participation in a national gun background check database and how to use mental health records when it comes to allowing firearms purchases.

Will this be the year when the General Assembly strengthens RI's gun laws?

Ian Donnis — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Law enforcement officials have tried without success for years to make Rhode Island’s gun laws more stringent. They say tougher laws would help to deter gun-related violence. Now, in the aftermath of the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, the question remains whether Rhode Island will beef up its gun laws. For starters, gun control supporters will have to overcome powerful opposition from the National Rifle Association.