Woonsocket Radio News Room

STATE HOUSE — The General Assembly today approved legislation to require gun dealers to notify the police in a gun buyer’s hometown in addition to the police department of the town where the gun was purchased.     

The Julie Lynn Cardinal Act (2020-H 7103Baa, 2020-S 2154Aaa), sponsored by Rep. Daniel P. McKiernan (D-Dist. 7, Providence) and Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere (R-Dist. 38, Charlestown, South Kingstown, Westerly), would require gun sellers to forward firearm applications to the police department of the city or town where the buyer resides, or the State Police if the purchaser resides outside Rhode Island or in the town of Exeter, which lacks a municipal police department.

The bill is named for the victim who perished in a shooting in Westerly last year where a resident purchased a gun from a firearms dealer in Richmond. Although Richmond Police conducted background checks, they were not aware that the buyer had a history with Westerly Police, including threats to buy a gun to kill himself and his estranged wife, which led to a stay at Butler Hospital. In addition to killing Cardinal, who was the manager of the affordable housing complex where the gunman lived, the shooter wounded another manager and a resident before fatally shooting himself.

“This is a simple matter of improving communication between law enforcement agencies,” said Representative McKiernan. “Local police departments are much more likely to have information regarding the mental health of a potential gun buyer. If there are concerns for the safety of the purchaser or others, then the police in the gun buyer’s community can take steps to keep the other agencies notified and potentially avert another tragedy.”

The measure now moves to the governor’s office.

The U.S. is now at more than five-million coronavirus cases and counting. The country passed that grim milestone over the weekend. The viral infection has killed more than 162-thousand Americans.       Police in Portland, Oregon again declared a riot Sunday evening as protests continue. It was the 74th night of protests in Portland since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Police custody. Protesters approached a police building, threw things at officers, blocked a road, and set dumpsters on fire.        Just about everyone expects Joe Biden to announce his choice for his vice presidential running mate this week. California Senator Kamala [[ COMMA-la ]] Harris and former national security adviser Susan Rice are seen as the top contenders.        Democrats in Wisconsin say they've found a long list of problems with Kayne West's nominating petitions. They say hundreds of signatures on petitions turned in over the weekend don't meet state requirement for addresses or voting location.        "America's Got Talent" judge Simon Cowell now has a metal rod in his back after he fell off an electric bicycle and broke his back at his Malibu home Saturday. Variety reports the rod was inserted in the 60-year-old music mogul's back during a five-hour surgery last night. A source says although his injuries are bad, Cowell was told he was lucky.        Serena Williams will be on the court for the first time in six months today at the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky. This is Serena's first tournament since February and it's the first Women's Tennis Association event since competition shut down in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.        

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