Pawtucket Mass Shooting

By: RICAGV Board of Directors

PAWTUCKET− Our hearts are broken again with the mass shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket that left three community members dead and three injured. No child, parent, coach, referee, fan, or staff member should ever have to fear for their life at a local youth sporting event. No one. This is UNACCEPTABLE.

Community spaces—especially those centered around children—should be safe. When guns enter these spaces, lives are put at risk, and families are left shaken. We are deeply grateful to the unarmed brave bystander who was able to slow the shooter, likely saving lives in the process, as well as to the first responders.

When a gun is present in a domestic violence situation, the risk of homicide increases 5x. The presence of guns in this complex situation has led to deep trauma, injuries, and heart-wrenching deaths, the effects of which ripple out across the broader community.

As we mourn for the lives taken, the injured fighting for their lives, and all traumatized by this deadly shooting, we are reminded, “There will be loud, simplistic arguments…about identity, politics, and blame–arguments that flatten a complex, painful reality into something people can weaponize…tragedies like this are not puzzles that can be solved by finding the most convenient villain,” as stated by Dan McGowan.

Support resources across the state are available, and we will help share them.

We continue to work from a place of love to do all that we can to decrease gun violence in RI.

You Can Help Prevent Gun Violence in Rhode Island

Your gift will ensure we have the resources needed to continue educating the public and our elected officials about the critical need for safer gun laws, while we push to pass bills to help keep our families and communities safer from gun violence. 

Please know how grateful we are for your passion and on-going efforts, week after week. We cannot do this lifesaving work without YOU. Collectively we are making a difference.