PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- This was the final question posed to the governor, top lawmakers and Attorney General Peter Kilmartin at the rollout of a proposed gun package that would ban assault weapons and hike penalties for possession of stole firearms:
"Do any of these laws get in the way of what happened in Newtown?"
In response, Kilmartin said the proposed package seeks to address these questions: "Is there a way to maybe either prevent that or in the removal of assault weapons minimize the carnage that happened, as in Conn.''
"Yes we have a right to bear arms,'' Kilmartin said, but freedom of speech "doesn't allow us to yell fire in a crowded movie theater....There can be reasonable limitations.'''
"This should not be the new normal,'' added House Speaker Gordon Fox. But, "What I can pass?....That I guess is the rub.''
Kilmartin said: "I know there is a lot of fear and angst out there,'' but the bills "won't infringe on (anyone's) constitutional rights.''
"This is just the beginning,'' said Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, voicing hope that before the session ends, there will be "a bill signing on many of these pieces.''
Related: RI lawmakers unveil gun-control package, including ban on semiautomatic assault weapons