NEW: Mayor Taveras Joins National Coalition Against Illegal Guns
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Mayor Angel Taveras has joined the National Coalition Against Illegal Guns (http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org) and joined Mayors across the country in opposition to a bill before Congress (H.R. 822) that would force states like Rhode Island to accept gun permits from states with far weaker standards.
More than 600 Mayors across the United States and major law enforcement organizations – including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Major Cities Chiefs – are opposing H.R. 822. This bill would usurp the authority of states to set their own minimum standards for who can—and more importantly, who can’t—carry a concealed, loaded gun in public. This forced concealed carry reciprocity legislation would require states to recognize permits issued in other states, even if those other states have far weaker standards.
"I am committed to removing illegal guns from our streets and working hard to reduce violence on our streets," said Mayor Angel Taveras. "Just this weekend, we buried another young man whose future was taken too soon, too fast."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"I oppose any federal attempt to strip cities and states of the authority to set our own public safety laws," said Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare. "Doing so would threaten the safety of our citizens by putting loaded guns in the hands of people who are too dangerous to qualify for a local permit. And it would put our police officers at risk by making it far more difficult to distinguish law-abiding gun owners from dangerous criminals."
"We support the effort by the Mayor and the Commissioner to remove guns from our streets," said Teny Gross, executive director of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence. "Our Streetworkers see the effects of gun violence everyday: mothers and fathers losing their children; brothers and sisters losing each other; families losing loved ones, income and hope."
For more information please visit http://www.ourlivesourlaws.org
