Cranston council votes down resolution endorsing state gun legislation

May 17, 2019 12:07 am

By Brittany Comak

Twitter: @ComakNews

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) – A resolution regarding assault-style weapons and concealed firearms on school grounds was voted down at Cranston City Hall Thursday night.

While the resolution was non-binding and really more symbolic, it failed 4 votes to 2, with some city council people saying they don’t believe it will make Cranston safer.

The resolution would have offered support to three gun safety legislation bills.

According to the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV), bills to ban assault weapons, high capacity magazines, and concealed firearms on school grounds have been cycling through the State House for the last 6 years.

“If they don’t get a vote then it doesn’t really matter,” said Linda Finn of the RICAGV. “And that’s kind of where we’ve been. We just haven’t had any votes.”

Over the last year, several school committees and the Central Falls City Council have voted to endorse the legislation, hoping to give it some momentum.

After about an hour of discussion Thursday night, that list of towns will not grow to include Cranston. The council was ultimately swayed by the testimony.

“I know it doesn’t hold a lot of weight, it’s a resolution that’s just going to the State House,” said Richard Vespia of Cranston, speaking out against the resolution. “But one of the things that you’re voting for, you’re voting to limit me, a law abiding, tax paying citizen.”

While state law prohibits guns from being on school grounds, activists say concealed carry permit holders in Rhode Island are in one of only five U.S. states exempt from that.

Second amendment activists believe it’s a safety necessity.

“To take guns away from the schools, from law-abiding citizens, and people who are well trained, is like saying, ‘Hey, let’s put a big target on the school,’ open sign, that says ‘hey come in and shoot our kids,’” said Cranston resident Dan Bidondi.

It’s unclear at this time if the bills will be brought up again as separate resolutions in the future, but those who are working towards passing the bills at the state level say they intend to keep fighting.