PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Calling the massacre in Newtown, Conn. "a tragic wake-up call for our state and our nation,' House Speaker Gordon D. Fox on Monday promised a close look at Rhode Island's gun-control laws.
"It will be a high priority of the House in the upcoming session to reexamine all of our gun laws, especially those addressing access to semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines.'' he said, in response to a Journal query.
"In addition, I will be reaching out to Commissioner of Education Deborah Gist to review school safety procedures and whether legislation is needed to strengthen them. We also must make a commitment to ensuring our mental health system has the procedures in place to reach out and treat those in need,'' he said.
He made his comments on the same day Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed echoed President Obama' in saying "meaningful action is necessary,'' and talked about convening a working group of law enforcement officials to advise state lawmakers on what they can and should do.