Weapons of war don't belong in the hands of civilians
By
Melissa Devine, Democratic candidate for House District 31
Remarkably, it has sadly been a common news story since April of 1999, when a community in the mountain hills of Colorado was forever changed with the senseless, brutal slaughter of Columbine High School students.
They,
like most students, were simply looking forward to their lives ahead. 12
students and one teacher were killed that pivotal day with a trauma wave that
rippled from close family and friends, outward into our daily American
consciousness.
Here
we are today more than twenty years later, and have made only reactionary
administrative changes with little movement forward in keeping students and
faculty safe, or our public places such as supermarkets, parades and outdoor
venues secure from gun violence.
After
that dark day in April of 1999, my cousin Molly who lives in Jefferson County,
CO just a town over from Columbine, who at that time had 4 small children in
school, decided to give them cell phones at a ridiculously young age. Why?
Because she was convinced that they may need to call her if another shooting
was happening.
Another
cousin who lives in Las Vegas, has a colleague who was a part-time EMT and
first responder at the Route 91 Harvest Festival concert massacre in 2017 where
59 people were murdered, and more than 400 people were injured.
While
her friend’s EMT training had prepared her for typical festival type injuries:
dehydration, heart attacks, cuts and bruises, was not something that anyone
would anticipate witnessing in their own community.
She
and other staff were ill equipped to triage battle wound injuries like the
woman who had been severely injured, shot in the head with multiple rounds from
an AR-15 with her face exploding and her eyeball hanging from her head. The
woman later died while her husband crouched next to her helplessly holding her
hand. The part time EMT has since sought therapy for depression and anxiety.
These
are just two examples of countless ways our reality and daily liberty to go
about our days has been infringed upon. Why shouldn’t our laws be
representative for the civil liberties of all people? While Second Amendment
zealots will say it is their right to carry weapons of war, when did this
absolute right become true?
Our
forefathers, while taking time to pack and reload their muskets, could never
have envisioned the destruction of military style high- capacity magazine
weapons that could kill multiple targets in just seconds. Our technology has
changed. Our reality and behaviors have changed, yet our policies and
legislation have been slow to catch up.
My
name is Melissa Devine, and as a Moms Demand
Action candidate of distinction, I believe we can do better for
our community. Sensible gun legislation along with other impactful issues, is
why I have chosen to run for the General Assembly, House District 31-North
Kingstown, Exeter.
Here
are the topics I am concerned about, and will strongly legislate in favor of
while in committee, and make every effort to bring these bills to the floor.
●
Sensible Gun
Legislation:
Gun violence and active shooter drills should not be what’s on a parent’s mind
when they send their kids to school. As a Representative will continue to work
on bills that protect the rights of all kids and faculty creating a safe
environment in which they can focus and thrive.
● Environmental and Climate Issues: Environmental factors are already affecting everything in our state from clean air, the healthy vegetation on our property, to the temperature of Narragansett Bay. Our good health and our property values are being affected as sea level rise and inland flooding encroaches upon our existing roads and bridges. Climate impacts are affecting the building codes for new building and home modification. Limiting single use plastic, looking at PFAS in our water supply and the creation of a bottle bill with satellite Food Pantry redemption locations are topics that I would like to advocate and create legislation for.
● Protection of Women’s Rights: There are major concerns about women and their fundamental right to control their own bodies and reproductive health care. Having passionately advocated at the State House to ensure the Woman’s Reproductive Privacy Act bill was codified into Rhode Island law in 2019. As a member of the legislature, I will continue to fight to keep these rights in place for all women and girls.
● Affordable and Sensible Elder Care: As the primary caregiver for both of my parents, I’ve experienced first-hand the challenges facing seniors who want to age in place. I’ll work to promote awareness of home modification options, and elder protections. I understand the significant role that access to affordable and accessible public transportation plays for any senior who cannot drive yet needs to access health care and daily services.
● STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Our children represent our future. I will advocate for better support for our schools, the foundation of our community. Given the major challenges and events of the last few years, it’s clear that we must advocate for mental health resources for our schools.
Join me at the polls on Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 13.
Early
voting at the town offices begins August 24, See https://vote.sos.ri.gov
for more dates.
Email:
votedevine31@gmail.com
Melissa Devine - THE AUTHENTIC DEMOCRATIC VOICE FOR DISTRICT 31.
