Less than 48 hours after the deadly attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that left more than a dozen dead, Australian authorities announced proposals for sweeping new gun laws.
guns
More liberals, people of color and LGBTQ Americans say they’re buying guns out of fear
The image of gun ownership in America has been white, rural and Republican, but that’s been changing as more liberals and minorities have been buying guns, especially after the 2024 election.
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 27, 2025
Enjoy summer while we can — it will be gone in a flash. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. A quick program note: I’m taking some time off, so this column will next appear on July 18. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox […]
Bill to ban sales of ‘assault weapons’ in RI poised to become law
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is poised to sign into law a bill that will ban the sale and manufacture — but not the use or possession — of guns defined as assault weapons. Any uncertainty about the legislative path for the bill ended when the House of Representatives approved the measure on a 43-to-28 […]
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 20, 2025
I volunteer to play 1B for the Sox for a lot less money than Rafael Devers. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: More than […]
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 13, 2025
The General Assembly session is almost all over but the crying. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: In some ways, the $14.3 billion budget […]
RI Senate President Lawson and GOP team up to deal possible death-blow to ‘assault weapons’ bill
The tiny four-member Republican caucus in the Rhode Island Senate made the difference in a vote Thursday that may have killed a proposed “assault weapon” ban in the current General Assembly session. On a 20-to-17 vote, senators effectively rejected an effort by Sen. Pam Lauria (D-Barrington) to move the AWB bill from the Judiciary Committee […]
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 6, 2025
The tempers are rising with the temperature at the Statehouse. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: When does the calculus of doing nothing outweigh […]
RI House Judiciary Committee approves assault weapon ban bill
In a historic vote, the Rhode House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved a bill that would ban guns defined as assault weapons as of July 2026, sending the legislation to the House of Representatives for a vote on Thursday. If the measure becomes law, guns purchased before the effective date will still be legal. The […]
Ethics Commission says Ciccone can vote on gun bill
On an eight-to-one vote, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission said Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone — who holds a federal firearms license — can debate and vote on a proposed ban on new sales of assault-style weapons. Ciccone (D-Providence) was first elected to the Senate in 2002. He sought an ethics advisory opinion after becoming […]


