Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo on Wednesday said the state is implementing a directive meant to keep people other than police from bringing guns into K-12 schools.
Speaking two weeks ahead of a statewide primary election, the Democratic governor said she is closing a loophole under which Rhode Island was among a handful of states that allowed people other than law enforcement to bring concealed guns into schools.
“It isn’t hard: Guns don’t belong in schools,” Raimondo said in a statement. “Even Mississippi bans non-law enforcement officials from carrying guns onto school grounds. As we start a new school year, our students cannot wait a minute longer for the General Assembly to take action on the Safe Schools Act.”
Joined by state Education Commissioner Ken Wagner during a news conference, Raimondo said a binding state Department of Education directive immediately bans guns from Rhode Island schools.
The move comes after a legislative effort to ban concealed carry weapons from schools did not win approval during the General Assembly session earlier this year.
Some of the candidates hoping to challenge Raimondo for governor criticized her approach, calling it misguided and predicting that it may put students at heightened risk.
“Governor Raimondo and RIDE Commissioner Ken Wagner’s directive to only permit active and visibly identifiable law enforcement personnel to carry guns onto Rhode Island school grounds is a terrible mistake that could cost more student lives than she realizes,” independent candidate for governor Joe Trillo said in a statement.
“The answer to combatting a school shooter, is not to limit the number of guns in schools, but to allow in addition to police officers, resource officers and gun owners with valid concealed carry permits to carry firearms onto school grounds to serve as protection in the event of an unspeakable act by someone looking to kill,” Trillo said.
RIPR asked Republican candidate Allan Fung and Democrat Matt Brown whether they support or oppose Raimondo’s initiative.
In a statement, Fung said, “What all families want from their leaders is to address the heart of the matter, strengthening security around our schools and soft targets. The governor’s administrative order is nothing more than political pandering without any backbone. Shortly, I’ll be rolling out my plan to strengthen safety measures in our schools, which I feel will do a better job at actually addressing all of our concerns.”
Juliet Barbara, spokeswoman for Brown’s campaign, said: “Matt’s position has always been to ban guns in schools, but he also believes we need to take on the NRA and put in place comprehensive gun reform. As Governor, Matt would work with the legislature and communities to pass gun reform that would include banning guns in schools, regulating junk guns, banning assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines, and requiring firearm registration, and he would advocate for closing the liability loophole for gun manufacturers in federal law so they can be held accountable.”
Republican candidate Patricia Morgan accused Raimondo of “waging war on the Constitution.”
“As governor, on day one I will immediately rescind this Executive Order,” Morgan said. “I believe that the answer to securing our schools lies in a thoughtful approach, not an ideological one. Teachers with specialized training, perhaps from military or law enforcement, may volunteer to have access to firearms in schools. They may be a life-saving last resort in case a Parkland-like shooting ever happens in our state. There is much thought and work that must happen before we allow that practical step. That being said, our children deserve thorough vetting of the idea.”
Another Republican, Giovanni Feroce, also said Raimondo’s appoach is the wrong way to address the issue.
“Governor Raimondo continues to set aside common sense in favor of moving our state to the extreme left,” Feroce said. “She is intent on making Rhode Island an outlier for her extreme agenda. Of course we would want licensed off duty officers and other certified and qualified individuals to be armed as an added line of defense.”
Feroce, describing himself as a combat veteran, added, “I support an Oklahoma program where the names of both civilians and teachers authorized to carry a firearm on school grounds are kept confidential at school and among the general public, but known to the school board and local law enforcement.”
In a news release on her directive, Raimondo pointed to a series of steps she’s taken related to guns, including signing a so-called “red flag” law meant to remove guns from people considered at a risk for committing violence.
This story has been updated.
