Rep. Amo unveils new gun safety legislation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Democratic Congressman Gabe Amo announced a new bill of his to prevent gun violence.

ORIGINAL NOTE: https://www.wpri.com/news/politics/rep-amo-unveils-new-gun-safety-legislation/

The bill, called “the Responsible Retirement of Law Enforcement Firearms Act,” would ban the sale or transfer of weapons formerly used by law enforcement to “bad apple” firearms dealers.

“Studies have shown that over 52,000 retired police firearms have been found at crime scenes since 2006,” Amo said at a press conference about the legislation Friday afternoon. “That’s unacceptable, that has to stop.”

Congressman Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, is a co-lead on the legislation. Rhode Island’s other Congressman, Seth Magaziner, is a co-sponsor.

The bill is endorsed by several gun violence prevention advocacy groups, the state’s police chiefs association and the R.I. International Brotherhood of Police Officers. Members of those organizations also spoke at the event.