Police Bring Down Gunman, Could Gun Laws Prevent Future Incidents?

Newport police brought down a gunman Tuesday at the same time as lawmakers unveiled a package of gun control bills. Do you think the proposed laws could improve public saftey?

In an paradigm of coincidence Tuesday afternoon, at the same time that Rhode Island lawmakers were unveiling a package of gun control bills, Newport police were bringing down an alleged gunman.  Police confirmed the suspect, 21-year-old Tyquan Mitchell, did not have a permit to legally carry a gun. The proposed laws would increase penalties and close loopholes on gun crimes, add mental-health background checks and ban semi-automatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. After allegedly waving the gun in the Park Holm area, police said Mitchell fled in a car to Miantonomi Park, where he was brought down by gunpoint. Police said children who were playing at the park ran from the scene.  Police found a loaded .22 short caliber as well …

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Newport Attorney Says Gun Registration Bill is Unconstitutional

Patch sat down with local attorney to evaluate a gun registration bill that would require Rhode Island gun owners to register their weapons with police and pay a $100 registration fee.

  Editor’s Note:  State Rep Linda Finn (D-Middletown, Portsmouth) introduced legislation (2013-H 5573) in February, that would require Rhode Island gun owners to register their weapons with local police or the state police and pay a $100 registration fee. Many Patch readers expressed concerns about the constitutionality of the proposal.  We sat down with Newport attorney Kevin Hagan to review the bill from a constitutional perspective, and help sort out fact from fiction. Hagan has taught Law and Society at CCRI in Newport, that includes coursework on the Second Amendment.  Patch:   Some readers said there was a difference between rights and privileges. For example, one reader said that that owning a car is a privilege, which can be …

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Jack Baillargeron

12:14 am on Friday, April 12, 2013

Wondered about that John. How sad is it that if you were a male teacher and said another female teacher was very pretty that day. You would be brought up on sexual harrassment charges and sued to death probably. You are correct in the position of authority, with age of concent in RI and most of the Country at age 16. That is hardly an age where the child be able to make a choice with a person of …   more ›

'Moms Demand Action' Hold Conference in Support of Gun Legislation

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Rhode Island Chapter held a press conference last week to show support for gun control legislation.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Rhode Island Chapter, held a press conference last Thursday at the State House to show support for gun legislation, including the gun registration bill, 5573, introduced by State Rep. Linda Finn Linda Finn (D-Dist. 72, Middletown, Portsmouth). “We will no longer stay silent knowing that every day eight children are killed by gun violence in the United States,” said Aida Neary of Moms Demand Action at the conference. “The Newtown children were all our children. It is sad that it took 20 children for us to open our eyes and realize that all children who die from gun violence are our children. The event corresponded with the National Day of Action with events all across the country advocating for …

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Finn Says She Is Open to Discussion on Gun Registration Bill

In a letter to the editor, Finn address the concern and criticism of the gun registration bill introduced last month.

[editor's note: The following letter was submitted by Rep. Linda Finn (D-Dist. 72, Middletown, Portsmouth) regarding the gun registration bill, 5573, that would require gun owners to register their weapons with local police.  The controversial proposal drew hundreds to the State House last month to speak up against the bill.] I have received many responses from concerned citizens, both gun owning and not. I would like to clarify a couple of items and respond to some of the criticism of the bill.         Please remember that at this point, this bill is still only a proposal. In order for it to become law, a House committee must first hear it. That hearing before the House Judiciary Committee is open to all to testify about their opinions. …

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The Real Danger of Gun Control

What gun control really is. How sad we deny the rights of the Law abiding citizens in order to allow the criminal elements more freedom to kill Law abiding citizens and innocent children.

Proposed Bill Requires Gun Owners to Register with Police

The proposed legislation would require anyone who possesses a firearm to register the gun with their local police department.

Representative Linda Finn (D-Dist. 72, Middletown, Portsmouth) has introduced legislation to help police better track guns in their communities. The legislation would require gun owners to register their weapons with their local police or the state police, as well as allow police to keep copies of applications for gun purchases sent to them for background checks. “It’s surprising that Rhode Island doesn’t already do this," said Finn.  "Our current law requires background checks, a seven-day waiting period and applications for anyone who wants to buy a gun, but actually requires police to destroy the record of the application afterward." Under the legislation (2013-H 5573), anyone who possesses a firearm would be required to register the …

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Obama Calls For Sweeping Gun Laws: What's Your Take?

President Obama said the laws, including universal background checks and a renewed ban on assault rifles, would lead to "fewer atrocities like the one that happened in Newtown."

  Alongside Vice President Joe Biden and a group of children who had written in support, President Barack Obama signed a proposal to Congress on Wednesday to strengthen United States gun laws. These included universal background checks, limiting the number of bullets in a clip and renewing a ban on military-grade assault rifles. "If America worked harder to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, there would be fewer atrocities like the one that occurred in Newtown," Obama said. He listed some specific measures, including a 10-round limit on magazines for firearms, and asked Congress to confirm Todd Jones to fill the long-dormant role of chief for the Bureau of Alchol, Tobacco and Firearms — and briefly mentioned other measures, …

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Is Now the Time to Talk Gun Control?

Does the massacre at Newtown, CT, signal the need for a political debate on gun regulations?

Before officials had even held their first press conference Friday, Facebook was abuzz with status updates about the Newtown, CT, massacre. The statuses were split between those sending their condolences and those asking if the country would finally deal with the issue of gun control. Some fought back, asking for respect and mourning before political debate began. Others remained fierce in their belief that stricter gun control regulations would have prevented such a mass killing, saying the victims were shot multiple times and with semi-automatic weapons, according to Fox News. The guns were not illegal and were, in fact, owned by the shooter's mother. Among them were a semi-automatic .223 caliber bushmaster rifle and two handguns. Those …

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Naome Lixes

8:15 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012

I'm tired of hearing you clang on about your rights and neglecting your responsibilities. It's the ethos of twelve year old boys. "You can't have what's mine - and whatever I can take is mine, too."   more ›