PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The police chief from Newtown, Conn., will testify in support of gun control legislation at Wednesday's hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.
Police Chief Michael Kehoe will speak about the impact of gun violence in his town, where 20 first-graders and six educators were killed in a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December.
Governor Chafee, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, and House Speaker Gordon Fox have said that the school shooting spurred them to draft bills to combat gun violence.
But the bills found fierce opposition from gun lobbyists and gun enthusiasts at last Thursday's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Gun rights supporters are holding a rally at 2 p.m. Wednesday outside the State House.