High school kids walked out of school and marched to the State House to demand better gun safety legislation earlier this week - they shouldn't have to keep coming and asking adults to keep them safe.
Dear friends,
Even as families in Buffalo were still planning funerals for their loved ones murdered in a racist rampage earlier this month, our hearts were ripped apart again with the news of a school shooting in Texas on Tuesday. Here is a heartbreaking list of the children who were killed by a young man who purchased powerful and deadly weapons days after he turned 18, on credit, 10 whole years after elementary school children were murdered in a school shooting by a different young man in Connecticut at Sandy Hook Elementary. We also have gun violence in our neighborhoods, including this recent shooting in Billy Taylor Park. We have not acted, for far too long. We need a national assault weapons ban. We need to ensure that 18 year olds cannot buy weapons. We should limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds. We need remember that many deaths from guns are not mass shootings, but rather interpersonal violence and accidents and suicides, and we need to enact safe storage laws, and support strong and healthy communities.
Here in Rhode Island, there are 5 bills ready for us to act on in the next weeks, this session. They will:
1. Limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds
2. Raise age to purchase long guns and ammunition to 21
3. Regulate assault weapons
4. Require safe storage of weapons
5. Prohibit open carry of long guns in public.
These are common sense limitations that will make a difference. The Attorney General released his annual gun crimes report this week (and it is embedded in this Projo article). Providence Public Safety Commissioner Pare spoke of common sense gun measures on RIPR Political Roundtable on Friday. People are gathering at the State House on Tuesday June 1 at 3:15 to demand that the bills get a vote.
I hope to see you there.
Legislating is definitely a team effort, and I am grateful to be working together with you to make RI even better.
As always, please let me know what you think, by e-mail, phone or at my community conversation tomorrow at noon (see link above). Also, please follow me on Twitter orFacebook, or write to me at info@rebeccakislak.com. You can also call or text me at 401-400-2338. I look forward to hearing from you!
Rent Relief - There is funding available for tenants who need help paying the rent. You can call 2-1-1 or visit RentReliefRI.com to apply for rent relief funds. (Available until June 1.)
Community Events
State House Rally for Common Sense Gun Laws
Tuesday May 31 - 3:15 p.m.
Rhode Island State House (Mall Side, I'm pretty sure)
Ward 3 Community Meeting
Tuesday May 31 - 5:50 p.m.
Billy Taylor Park
one item on the agenda will be neighborhood safety