Gun Violence Survivors and Gun Safety Advocates Gather at Statehouse to Urge Passage of Legislation to Get Assault Weapons Out of Our Communities

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Yesterday, volunteers with the Rhode Island chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, met with lawmakers to urge the passage of legislation that would get weapons of war like the AR-15 off of our streets. At an event earlier in the day, the executive director of Moms Demand Action, Angela Ferrell-Zabala joined volunteers, gun violence survivors and state lawmakers to talk about the need to pass H 5436/S 359 and prevent future mass tragedies in the state. 

“We’ve seen the devastation that assault weapons can cause, from Las Vegas to Uvalde to Orlando. Even though Rhode Island has one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the country, that doesn’t mean it’s immune,’ said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “We can’t wait for tragedy to strike in our own backyard before we act. Nine states and Washington, D.C. have already passed laws to keep assault weapons out of our communities — it’s time for Rhode Island to step up and do the same.”

“My daughter Esscence was just 21 years old when her life was tragically taken by a person using an assault weapon in a drive-by shooting in Providence; six days ago, we should have celebrated her 35th birthday together. The pain of losing her is something I carry every day,” said Diana Garrington, a volunteer with the Rhode Island chapter of Moms Demand Action and a fellow with the Everytown Survivor Network. “We cannot continue to allow these assault weapons to be so easily available in Rhode Island. By passing legislation to keep these firearms out of our communities, we could save countless lives and prevent more families from experiencing the heartbreak that I live with every day.” 

“My story started like so many, too many. In 8 seconds, a boy I didn’t know pulled his father’s unsecured ghost gun out of his backpack and fired blindly, destroying five lives, and altering 2000 others,” said Mia Tretta, a volunteer leader with the Brown University Students Demand Action chapter and gunshot wound survivor from the shooting at Saugus High School in California. “I started with creating and leading my high school’s Students Demand Action group. We supported gun safety bills, we marched, we protested, we testified, and demanded that our voices be heard. It worked. And now, it will work in Rhode Island.” 

Yesterday’s advocacy day came nearly two weeks after the House Judiciary committee held a hearing on H 5436, where gun safety advocates spoke about the need to pass this measure through the House. Volunteers with the Moms Demand Action chapter in Rhode Island have been urging lawmakers to enact a measure to keep assault weapons out of Rhode Island communities since 2018, and former volunteers have even run for public office on a platform of gun violence prevention – and gotten elected. Now, four of Moms Demand Action volunteers-turned-electeds are in the Rhode Island state legislature. 

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.