Coalition aims to ban guns from school property

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 3/19/15

The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV), a community-based organization formed two years ago to fight for gun safety legislation, is supporting legislation that would keep guns off …

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Coalition aims to ban guns from school property

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The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV), a community-based organization formed two years ago to fight for gun safety legislation, is supporting legislation that would keep guns off school property.

The RICAGV began after the 2013 General Assembly did not pass several pieces of common sense gun safety legislation.

The RICAGV is partnered with 56 different organizations and represents 105,000 Rhode Islanders. Partners include other coalitions, religious groups, medical and community-based organizations.

This year the coalition is focusing on a No Guns in School law that would prohibit people with a concealed carry permit from bringing a gun onto school grounds.

“We don’t want them in our schools. Other than Utah, we are the only state in the country that affirmatively says civilians can carry concealed weapons with this permit,” Julia Wyman, the legislative director for RICAGV said.

This bill, H-5861, was introduced through the Attorney General’s office and has not been assigned a hearing, but was referred to the House Judiciary Committee

Although Wyman said there are reasons someone would want a concealed carry permit, guns still don’t belong on school grounds because there is “far more risk” of a gun being stolen or improperly used by an untrained civilian.

Joe Tavares, who was a Warwick police officer for 30 years and served as East Providence Chief of Police for five years, said some people think having guns on the property can “deputize” people during an emergency, but more often than not they can prove more dangerous. Tavares is a board member of the coalition.

Sydney Montstream-Quas, director of operations for the coalition, said there are a lot of people involved in the schools who aren’t aware that civilians can bring lethal weapons onto school property.

“Ask anyone who is involved on a school setting,” she said. “Teachers, administrators, parents, they don’t want unknown weapons coming onto their school’s property that could put them all at risk.”

Two years ago when the coalition first formed, they took a stance on every piece of legislation involving guns but quickly learned that by bringing in their focus on a few specific bills, they could make more headway toward passing a bill.

Montstream-Quas said, “Our first year we were involved with so many bills, we couldn’t even list them. We don’t want to get distracted by taking a stance on every single bill that deals with guns. This way, we can follow these three bills properly and hopefully get something done this year.”

After two years Jerry Belair, a founding board member, said that although the bills they supported last year did not pass, he has high hopes for this year.

This year the coalition will focus on three pieces of legislation, including the No Guns in School law.

Another piece of legislation supported by the coalition involves restricting gun ownership for individuals who have been convicted of a misdemeanor for domestic abuse.

The bill, H-5872 introduced through the Attorney General’s office but does not have an assigned hearing at this time, would “align” Rhode Island’s laws with the federal government’s, which does not allow convicted persons of a misdemeanor domestic abuse to purchase, possess, carry or transport a gun.

Wyman explained that domestic abuse is often an issue of control and can often, if left un-addressed, quickly spiral out of control and a gun can intensify the situation.

One of the most controversial pieces of legislation, which has not been introduced yet, would limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds.

Belair said, “For some reason people have a big problem with this legislation, yet, by law, when duck hunting, you’re restricted to three rounds and when deer hunting, five rounds. I guess its OK to protect our wildlife, but not our kids.”

Wyman believes it is important for legislators, when looking at this legislation, to focus on the tragedies that come with high capacity magazines.

“Now we are talking about mass shooting scenarios in malls, at movies, in schools. People have an increased lethal ability when they don’t have to reload,” she said.

Both Tavares and Wyman mentioned how critical the reload time can be for victims, giving them time to subdue an assailant or in the very least have a chance to get away.

Neighboring states have legislation that restricts magazine capacity between 10 to 15 rounds.

“Every state around us has round limits. That makes us a supply state of illegal contraband for high capacity magazines and that’s a dangerous place to be in,” Belair said.

Wyman said, “We aren’t trying to get rid of guns altogether; we are compromising with a 10-round limit magazine. Every other state has this law, why aren’t we conforming to this sort of legislation?”

On April 16 the coalition is holding a Stand Up Against Gun Violence Rally at the State House at 3 p.m.

There will be speakers at the event, including religious, political and law enforcement leaders. There will also be performances by the Extraordinary Rendition Band as well as Cheryl Albright.

The rally should last about an hour.

For more information on RICAGV or the rally, visit their website at www.ricagv.org. There is also a Facebook event page set up for the rally.

For any questions, email CoalitionAgainstGunViolence@gmail.com.

Comments

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  • davebarry109

    Wyman et. al. are idiots. They don't understand guns, don't like guns, and won't tell the truth that they want guns prohibited and will do so a little legislation at a time. I've had a gun on school grounds dozens of times and no one knew about it. If a crazy criminal started shooting people, having someone on school grounds with a gun is better than waiting five minutes for the cops to get there.

    This is why people who support the 2nd amendment don't want to agree to any anti-gun legislation. It will never be enough for people who are afraid of guns.

    Friday, March 20, 2015 Report this

  • davebarry109

    Wyman et. al. are idiots. They don't understand guns, don't like guns, and won't tell the truth that they want guns prohibited and will do so a little legislation at a time. I've had a gun on school grounds dozens of times and no one knew about it. If a crazy criminal started shooting people, having someone on school grounds with a gun is better than waiting five minutes for the cops to get there.

    This is why people who support the 2nd amendment don't want to agree to any anti-gun legislation. It will never be enough for people who are afraid of guns.

    Friday, March 20, 2015 Report this

  • kevinc

    911, boston bombing, Oklahoma bombing. What did they all have in common? No guns !!! You will never stop evil people. never.

    Prohibition started by a group of people who thought they knew what was best for everybody. How well did that work out? You people need to get a life and leave us good law abiding people alone.. guns don't kill, people kill.

    Friday, March 20, 2015 Report this

  • PaulHuff

    Blaming guns for violence is like blaming forks for obesity.

    The shooter at Virginia Tech did all of his killing with 10 round magazines. And no...every other state does not have a 10 round limitation.

    Monday, March 23, 2015 Report this