Why Voting Still Matters in Rhode Island
One of the most common things people say about politics is that one vote does not matter, especially in heavily Democratic states like ours. Rhode Island election results show a different story, however.
In many legislative races, the margin between winning and losing is very small. In 2022,…
Introduction Over the years, testimony and discussion at firearms-related hearings in Rhode Island have frequently relied on a wide range of statistics drawn from multiple sources, often producing inconsistent or conflicting conclusions. In February 2026, Para Bellum Provisions—working in coordination with a Rhode Island attorney—initiated a formal effort to establish a clear and factual understanding…
Rally days can feel like a lot if you have never been to one. The goal of this post is to make it simple so you know when to show up, where to park, what happens when you walk in, and how the testimony process usually works. On our biggest days, we ask people to…
Alert Notification
Important Notice to VA Beneficiaries, Military Retirees, and Active Duty Service Members We want to make our community aware of a recent VA disability policy issue that drew significant concern. In February 2026, the Department of Veterans Affairs issued a rule that would have changed how some service connected disabilities are rated when…
Speaking at the State House can feel intimidating, especially when your testimony is limited to two minutes. The good news is that with a clear structure, basic research, and a little rehearsal, two minutes is enough time to make a meaningful impact. In committee hearings, public testimony is generally allowed on the bills on the…
If you care about a bill in Rhode Island, written testimony is one of the most direct ways to influence what happens next. The Rhode Island General Assembly accepts public testimony on bills, and committees review that input during hearings. You can testify in person, but written testimony is often the easiest and most practical…
After reading my last article, you may have gone out and bought a Baofeng for emergency communications. But you realize that you can’t talk to anybody unless they are within a mile or two of you. Most likely that is because you are using the standard antennas, and you live in an area with a…
The two main purposes of a shelter are to provide protection from the elements (wind, rain, snow, sun, heat, cold, etc.) and to provide a place to hide (from people or animals). Some shelters are proven to be better than others at each task, while others offer well rounded protection for both needs, but not…
Can you get from your current location back home without using a GPS? What if your regular route is blocked off and you need to go around? And worse, what if you can’t use your car at all? Pretty much anybody can use the Maps app on their phone to follow a GPS-created route from…
A discussion on emergency communications.
The power just went out. Your computer doesn’t work. Landline phones are out (who still has those anyways?) Cellular phone towers will last anywhere from hours to days before their backups run out. Do you have a plan to get information, or a way to contact somebody to ask for…
There are many reasons we may have to leave our location, wherever we may be, in a matter of minutes. There could be a hurricane bearing down and we don’t have hours to pack. Or the damn breaks and we are about to get flooded. On the darker side, there could be a terrorist attack…
PREFACE
Before diving into the data contained in Attorney General Peter Neronha’s 2023 Gun Crimes Report it is important to have a contextual understanding of the data provided by the Attorney General as supporting documentation of the written report released by his office on July 3, of 2023. As a statement of fact, as evidenced…