CLAIM:
Rhode Island public opinion in favor of 3 common sense gun control bills increases when voters are told of shortcomings in existing R.I. law dealing with gun safety.
1) Restrict possession of guns by concealed carry permit holders on any elementary or secondary school grounds
2) Limiting the number of bullets in a gun to 10 rounds as is done in neighboring states like Massachusetts and Connecticut
3) Restrict possession of guns by individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses
REBUTTAL:
The 2016 Rhode Island Statewide Poll on Gun Violence, commissioned by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV), presents high levels of public support for gun control measures. However, there are several key concerns with how this data is presented and interpreted:
1. Issues with Polling Methodology and Question Framing
- Push Polling Tactics:
- The poll first asked for respondents’ opinions but then provided additional context that framed existing laws as inadequate, leading to an increase in support for gun control after persuasion.
- This suggests a biased approach where voters were led to a predetermined conclusion rather than providing unbiased answers.
- No Information on Sample Size or Representativeness:
- The results lack transparency regarding how many people were surveyed, how they were selected, and if they were a statistically valid sample of Rhode Island voters.
- Without randomized, representative sampling, these results cannot reliably reflect the views of the entire state.
2. Support for Gun Restrictions on School Grounds (83%)
- Framing of the Question Is Misleading:
- The poll implies that Rhode Island law allows anyone to carry firearms on school grounds, which is false.
- Only individuals with a concealed carry permit (CCW)—who have already undergone background checks and training—can do so.
- The comparison to the State House is misleading because elected officials and law enforcement routinely carry guns inside government buildings for security purposes.
- Rhode Island’s Violent Crime Rate in Schools Is Extremely Low:
- There is no documented case of a legally permitted concealed carrier committing a violent crime in a Rhode Island school.
- The majority of school shootings nationwide involve illegally possessed firearms.
3. Limiting Magazines to 10 Rounds (75%)
- Comparison to Hunting Regulations Is Misleading:
- The poll suggests that hunting laws (limiting hunters to 3 rounds for duck hunting and 5 for deer hunting) should apply to self-defense scenarios.
- Self-defense situations are not the same as hunting—criminals do not abide by capacity limits.
- Rhode Island-Specific Data on Firearm Use in Crime:
- No credible evidence suggests that magazine restrictions reduce gun violence.
- Handguns with standard magazines (above 10 rounds) remain the most common self-defense firearm in the U.S..
4. Restricting Gun Ownership for Domestic Abusers (92%)
- This Is Already Federal Law:
- The poll misleads respondents into believing Rhode Island has no legal mechanism to restrict gun ownership for domestic abusers.
- Federal law already prohibits convicted domestic abusers from owning firearms, meaning this is already in place regardless of state law.
- Due Process Concerns:
- While firearm restrictions for convicted abusers are widely accepted, some legislation seeks to extend these restrictions to individuals accused (but not convicted) of domestic violence, raising due process concerns.
Conclusion:
- The poll results are shaped by biased question framing rather than neutral data collection.
- No evidence is provided that these measures would reduce crime in Rhode Island.
- The poll selectively presents gun control narratives while ignoring defensive gun use or enforcement of current laws.
RI Specific Data:
Rhode Island consistently reports one of the lowest firearm mortality rates in the United States. In 2023, the state’s firearm death rate was approximately 4.8 per 100,000 residents, significantly below the national average of 13.8 per 100,000.
Firearm Deaths in Rhode Island:
- Total Fatalities: In 2023, an estimated 58 individuals in Rhode Island died due to firearm-related injuries.
- Suicides vs. Homicides: Approximately 66% of these deaths were suicides, with the remaining 34% encompassing homicides, accidents, and other causes.
Defensive Gun Use (DGU):
Specific data on defensive gun use in Rhode Island is limited. Nationally, studies indicate that defensive uses of firearms are relatively rare. For instance, intended victims of violent crimes engaged in self-protective behavior with a firearm in only 0.8% of attempted and completed incidents between 2007 and 2011.
Firearm Ownership:
Rhode Island has one of the lowest rates of gun ownership in the country. This low prevalence of firearms may contribute to the state’s reduced firearm mortality rate.
Conclusion:
While Rhode Island maintains a low firearm mortality rate compared to national figures, the majority of these deaths are suicides. The state’s stringent gun laws and low firearm ownership rate likely play roles in these statistics. However, comprehensive data specific to defensive gun use within the state remains scarce.