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Rhode Island Mayors Against Illegal Guns Release Letter in Support of Legislation to Keep Guns Away From Domestic Abusers

4.28.2015

Mayors of Central Falls, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, and Warwick Sign Letter Urging Lawmakers to Pass S. 503 and H. 5655

Poll Shows Overwhelming Majority of Rhode Islanders Back Legislation, Which Will Prohibit Domestic Abusers from Possessing Guns

Providence, RI – The Rhode Island coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns—a national coalition of mayors which, together with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, formed Everytown for Gun Safety last year—today released a letter urging lawmakers to pass S. 503 and H. 5655. The legislation would make it illegal for those convicted of domestic abuse or those under a domestic violence protective order to possess guns. The mayors’ full letter can be found here.

Polling released earlier this month showed that 8 out of 10 Rhode Islanders support the legislation. An even higher percentage, 82 percent, support the specific provision in the two bills to make it illegal for people subject to domestic violence protective orders to buy or possess guns.

Five Rhode Island mayors from cities representing hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders, signed the letter.

“Mayors see firsthand how gun violence can devastate families. Here in Rhode Island, between 2003 and 2012, there were 31 domestic violence homicides, and nearly a quarter of them were committed with guns. Statistically, women in domestic violence situations are five times more likely to be murdered when a gun is present,” the letter states.

“As mayors of Rhode Island cities, we believe it is time to update Rhode Island law and empower law enforcement to better protect Rhode Island families from gun violence. We know that we can both support the Second Amendment and do more to protect victims of domestic violence. Stand with us in support of S. 503 and H. 5655 to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, and help save Rhode Island lives.”

Over the past months, the Rhode Island Chapter of Moms Demand Action and the nearly 10,000 Everytown supporters in the state have spoken out in favor of S. 503 and H. 5655.