Rep. Kazarian testifies in favor of common-sense gun control measures before House Judiciary Committee

State House – Rep. Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence) testified in support of several common-sense gun control bills before the House Judiciary Committee this week.

“Too many people, especially our children, are dying needlessly because of gun violence and we have a moral responsibility to end this horrific and tragic trend. The bills I testified in support of are common-sense laws that will keep our residents safe from the terrible scenes of carnage and violence that have played out across our country for too long,” said Representative Kazarian.
Representative Kazarian testified in support of the following bills:

• 2019-H 5762, sponsored by Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence), prohibits firearms possession within 300 feet of school grounds except for peace officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons providing school security, firearms on private property and unloaded firearms in containers or locked car racks.

• 2019-H 5728, sponsored by Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown), increases the age from eighteen to twenty-one years for lawful possession, sale, or transfer of firearms or ammunition. Full-time law enforcement, fire marshals and member of U.S. military would be exempt from these prohibitions.

• 2019-H 5739, sponsored by Rep. Justine Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), prohibits sale/possession of feeding device holding more than 10 ammunition rounds punishable by up to $5,000 fine or up to 5 years imprisonment with law enforcement/military personnel exceptions.

• 2019-H 5741, also sponsored by Representative Caldwell, bans possession, sale and transfer of assault weapons which are not property registered.

“By supporting these bills, I am following through on a promise I made to my constituents to fight for common-sense gun laws that will protect our children and families. Guns have no place in the school setting and any private citizen who feels the need to bring a firearm onto school grounds should face ramifications for putting others in possible danger. Large capacity clips for ammunition and assault weapons only have one purpose, to kill with speed and efficiency, and if a person cannot buy alcohol because they are deemed too young and immature, they should in no way be able to own a firearm. All of these are simple reasons why I testified in favor of these bills and I will continue to advocate for their passage to make Rhode Islanders safer and more protected from gun violence,” concluded Representative Kazarian.