PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island is the first state since a deadly school shooting in Florida to establish a new policy to try to keep guns away from people who show warning signs of violence.
Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo established a so-called “red flag” policy Monday.
It directs law enforcement to take all available legal steps to remove firearms from those who pose a threat, launches a public awareness campaign and creates a gun safety working group.
It doesn’t give law enforcement any new authority to take guns away. Rhode Island is considering a red flag law to do that.
California, Connecticut, Indiana, Oregon and Washington have red flag laws. More than a dozen other states are considering similar bills.
Raimondo says this month’s shooting in Parkland, Florida, renewed the urgency for states to act.
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