Rhode Island Moms, Everytown: Domestic Violence Legislation Introduced Today Will Save Women’s Lives

Providence, RI – The Rhode Island Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement in support of Senator Cynthia Coyne and Representative Teresa Tanzi’s legislation to keep guns away from domestic abusers:

“Red and blue states all across the country have taken action to tackle this problem, and it’s time Rhode Island got up to speed,” said Jennifer Smith Boylan, a volunteer with the Rhode Island Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “It’s just common sense that people convicted of domestic violence crimes and under protective orders shouldn’t have access to guns. We hope our lawmakers in Providence follow the lead of Senator Coyne and Rep. Tanzi and pass this important bill.”

The bill would prohibit gun possession by people convicted of domestic violence crimes and people currently subject to domestic abuse protective orders. It would also require domestic abusers to surrender their guns to law enforcement or to gun dealers when they become prohibited.

Further Info on Guns and Domestic Violence:

– Six states—Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin—passed bills in 2014 to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
– Twenty states and Washington D.C. prohibit people convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from having guns.
– Twenty-three states and Washington D.C. prohibit people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from having guns.
– According to 2010 research by professors at Johns Hopkins University and Michigan State University, states that restrict access to firearms by those subject to domestic violence restraining orders see a 25 percent reduction in intimate partner gun homicides.
– The risk of homicide for women in a domestic violence situation increases 500 percent when a gun is present.
– Women in the U.S. are 11 times more likely to be killed with guns than women in other developed countries.