Portsmouth council supports bills banning guns in schools

Would prohibit concealed weapons other than those carried by police

By Jim McGaw
Posted 5/22/17

PORTSMOUTH — Mirroring action taken by the School Committee in March and in previous years, the Town Council Monday night voted unanimously to support state legislation that would ban anyone …

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Portsmouth council supports bills banning guns in schools

Would prohibit concealed weapons other than those carried by police

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Mirroring action taken by the School Committee in March and in previous years, the Town Council Monday night voted unanimously to support state legislation that would ban anyone other than law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms onto school grounds.

Council member Linda Ujifusa, who put the item on the agenda, noted that two pieces of state legislation — they are 2017-H5345 and 2017-S0187 — have the support of the R.I. Police Chiefs Association as well as Portsmouth Police Chief Thomas Lee. 

“Frankly, I think it’s a no-brainer,” Ms. Ujifusa said.

According to the R.I. Coalition Against Gun Violence, anyone with a Rhode Island concealed carry permit (CCP) can bring a firearm into a K-12 public school without the knowledge of police or school officials. 

“Forty-two states generally prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns in K-12 schools, even by concealed carry permit holders,” the Coalition states in its 2017 Fact Sheet. “Only seven other states generally allow CCP holders to carry concealed handguns in K-12 schools. Rhode Island is an outlier in its approach to guns in schools compared to the rest of the country.”

In addition to the police chiefs group, the measures also have the support of the R.I. School Superintendents Association, the R.I. Association of School Principals, the R.I. Association of School Committees and the R.I. League of Cities and Towns, according to the Coalition.

“We approved this resolution probably at least three times, maybe more. We don’t need drugs in school and we don’t need guns in school,” School Committee Chairwoman Terri Cortvriend told the council.

A parent of a Portsmouth High School student, John McDaid, also urged support for the gun ban.

“Concealed weapons present a constant unavoidable risk,” said Mr. McDaid. 

He said studies have shown that even those who are trained to use handguns are often an inaccurate shot when a confrontation arises. He urged against “adding more guns in the hands of the untrained.”

Local resident Peter Roberts, however, said improper training is what leads to gun accidents. He said his children have been trained to use firearms safely and would “drop” anyone with a gun who started threatening people in a public area such as a school.

“They call my daughters Annie Oakley,” he said.

The council voted 6-0 for a resolution — identical to the one approved by the School Committee two months ago — requesting that the General Assembly support the two gun-free schools bills “and all legislative proposals that would disallow non-law enforcement to carry concealed firearms onto school grounds.”

Portsmouth Town Council, Portsmouth School Committee

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