Issue Position: Safe Communities

Issue Position

Children deserve to be safe in their schools, and we all deserve to be safe in our communities. I support the initiative to research the causes of gun violence in Rhode Island in order to inform policy. I also support the Red Flag bill and the Bump Stock Ban bill passed during this legislative session, and would support continued efforts to improve common sense gun safety laws, such as expanding and improving the background check system, and creating laws that regulate safe storage and handling practices with associated penalties. We know that most Americans, including most Rhode Islanders and members of law enforcement, support these gun safety laws, and it's time to take action.

In addition, I would support initiatives to expand the mental health support services in our schools, including adopting a mental health curriculum component that New York and Virginia have done. Proactively helping our children understand how their feelings influence their behavior and the control they can exercise over their actions is an essential part of their development and will contribute to the goal of safer schools and communities.

Investing in our infrastructure and making sure our schools, roads, bridges, and public lands are in good shape is essential for creating a safe community, and I support legislation to promote the repair and construction of these vital elements of our state.

Finally, safe communities are formed when everyone feels like they have a stake in them. We must recognize and reaffirm immigrants' valuable role in our communities, from their work in vital industries to the ways their cultures enrich all of our lives. We must protect people who want to work hard to make Rhode Island their home, and create paths and opportunities for them to do so.

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