Gun Control & School Safety

I support the Second Amendment.

If you own a gun for target shooting or hunting, I respect that — I’ve done some target shooting myself. But we have to be honest with each other: we have a problem, and it’s not going away.

Trying to take every gun off the street isn’t realistic. What is realistic is creating smarter, tougher laws that actually work.

Criminals don’t walk into a gun shop and fill out applications — they buy guns illegally. So let’s crack down on that. If you’re caught with a gun that’s had its serial number filed off — and it’s used in a crime — the penalty should be much stiffer.

And when it comes to legal gun purchases, it’s time for a cooling-off period. A one-month waiting period gives people time to think, to cool down, and in some cases — it might just save a life.

Mental health plays a role, too. While there are legal limits to screenings, we can implement meaningful questionnaires and voluntary flagging programs for those who want to raise concerns about loved ones in crisis. These are ideas I want my administration to explore fully.

Now let’s talk about our kids.

Arming teachers? No way. That’s not the answer. But securing our schools is.

Every entrance and exit should be locked, inspected, and monitored. Cameras should be active at every door and watched in real time. If a side door is propped open, someone should be alerted immediately. That’s not overreach — it’s common sense.

We’ll also review how school shooters are gaining access. If it’s through an open door, we’ll fix that. If it’s through poor protocol, we’ll fix that too.

Gun safety starts with accountability — and that means closing loopholes that let guns used in crimes slip through the cracks.

Let’s protect our schools. Let’s respect responsible gun owners.

And let’s make Rhode Island safer for everyone.