RICAGV Press Release

Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence Statement on Terror in Pittsburgh

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 29, 2018

CONTACT: Kat Kerwin, Director of Communications, kat@ricagv.org

Providence, Rhode Island (October 29, 2018)–The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV) continues to grieve for the cities of Pittsburgh and Louisville today. The unthinkable tragedies that took place last week in a grocery story and at a place of worship were both hate crimes and acts of terrorism directed against the Jewish and African American communities. We are reaping the bitter fruit of the toxic combination of easy access to weapons of war, coupled with the paranoid political rhetoric practiced by both the President and the gun lobby. During this trying time for our nation while our communities are under assault, we must not lose sight of the fact that these kinds of tragedies are preventable through sensible gun regulation.

“We have written too many of these statements. We have called for action too many times. It is time that our nation and our nation’s politicians recognize that gun violence is a public health problem that is plaguing our nation and stealing away our citizens in the most sacred spaces– places of worship and schools” said RICAGV President, Linda Finn. “The time is now to ban military style assault weapons and ensure gun owners go through rigorous training to receive their permits.”

The RICAGV stands with the Jewish and African American communities against these heinous acts of hatred, and we remain more committed than ever to work for life saving gun safety legislation so that this sort of unspeakable terror never happens again.