87% Increase in Gun Deaths – 2020 v. 2019
While gun sales surge beyond all previous years and gun deaths already topping the previous six years, leadership at the Rhode Island General Assembly has once again refused to take up evidence-backed, common-sense gun safety reforms to protect our communities.
RI Gun Incidents 2014 to 2020
| Year | Total Incidents | Killed | Injured | Total Casualties | No Deaths/Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 130 | 28 | 55 | 83 | 47 |
| 2019 | 128 | 15 | 44 | 59 | 69 |
| 2018 | 213 | 17 | 77 | 94 | 119 |
| 2017 | 189 | 11 | 79 | 90 | 99 |
| 2016 | 233 | 14 | 86 | 100 | 133 |
| 2015 | 220 | 14 | 88 | 102 | 118 |
| 2014 | 147 | 17 | 71 | 88 | 59 |
Gun Safety Reforms Ignored by RI House and Senate Leadership
Our gun safety champions in both chambers constitute a majority, which would enable the passage of these sensible safety reforms if leadership would move them out of committee and to the floors for debate and up or down votes.
Safe Storage
Senate Bill 2593/House Bill 7720
Age to Legally Possess/Purchase Firearms
Senate Bill 7327
Firearm Straw Buyer
Senate Bill 2595/House Bill 7633
High Capacity Magazines
Senate Bill 2130
Military-Style Assault Weapons
Senate Bill 2131/House Bill 7264
Concealed Carry in K-12 Schools
Senate Bill 2592/House Bill 7715
Deeper Dive Reveals Many More Incidents
The media generally reports incidents involving firearms when someone has been shot. However, the latest Uniform Crime Report (UCR), administered by the RI State Police, reported 276 “Arrestee Armed With” Firearm incidents in 2018 throughout the state.
A Statewide Concern
The UCR breakdown of locations in table below dispells the notion that gun violence is only a problem in Providence.
This data excludes incidents that do not result in an arrest, such as a report of “shots fired” or someone brandishing a gun who then leaves the scene.
"Arrestee Armed With" Firearms by RI Location
The count below is for 2018 and includes arrests that included any type of firearm, as reported in the 2019 Uniform Crime Report: Crime in Rhode Island.
| Arrest Location | Incidents |
|---|---|
| Barrington | 2 |
| Bristol | 2 |
| Burrillville | 11 |
| Central Falls | 2 |
| Charlestown | 1 |
| Coventry | 5 |
| Cranston | 11 |
| Cumberland | 1 |
| East Greenwich | 3 |
| East Providence | 3 |
| Foster | 0 |
| Glocester | 3 |
| Hopkinton | 1 |
| Jamestown | 1 |
| Johnston | 6 |
| Lincoln | 4 |
| Little Compton | 0 |
| Middletown | 0 |
| Narragansett | 0 |
| Newport | 5 |
| North Kingstown | 2 |
| North Providence | 6 |
| North Smithfield | 4 |
| Pawtucket | 27 |
| Portsmouth | 0 |
| Providence | 72 |
| Richmond | 2 |
| Scituate | 1 |
| Smithfield | 0 |
| South Kingstown | 4 |
| Tiverton | 3 |
| Warren | 2 |
| Warwick | 12 |
| West Greenwich | 0 |
| West Warwick | 2 |
| Westerly | 3 |
| Woonsocket | 27 |
| TF Green Airport | 2 |
| Brown Univ | 0 |
| DEM | 5 |
| State Police Chepachet | 2 |
| State Police Headquarters | 20 |
| State Police Hope Valley | 5 |
| State Police Lincoln | 8 |
| State Police Portsmouth | 0 |
| State Police Wickford | 5 |
| URI | 1 |
