Expand+Gun+Rights

Democracy and Active Citizenship Project
 * What should be prepared for the Dialogues in Democracy Night? Click the link below to find out: **

__Problem Statement:__
(Vision) Rhode Island citizens have the right to apply for a concealed carry permit and as a result, the number of successful violent crimes in the state has been significantly lowered when compared to previous years.

(Issue Statement) Under Rhode Island’s current law on gun rights, only current and retired police officers are able to carry a concealed handgun in public while they are off duty. This law restricts good men and women from protecting themselves in a dangerous situation. In simple terms, this law disarms the good people in Rhode Island rather than the dangerous criminals that steal and illegally buy their weapons. If we do not address this problem, how can a violent crime be stopped in its track?

(Method) We will organize law-abiding citizens to rally at the Rhode Island Statehouse to gain support for an adult’s right to defend themselves by carrying a concealed handgun.

__**Bill or Policy**:__

Rhode Island General Assembly
 * **Committee:** || **Principal Author:** ||
 * **Bill No:** || **Delegation:** ||


 * **Title of Bill:**
 * PART I – CRIME AND SELF-DEFENSE**
 * CHAPTER 1 – CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS** ||

Be It Enacted By The Rhode Island General Assembly


 * 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21 || § 1. Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter: (1) The term "firearm" means- (A) any weapon that is designed to launch a projectile by any type of internal propellant; and (B) any rifle, handgun, or shotgun. (2) The term "handgun" means a firearm that can be held and fired by one hand. § 2. Preamble. (a) Whereas adult citizens may only purchase a handgun at the age of 21 years for self-defense, or recreational and personal use, it will be the right of all citizens who purchase a handgun; in compliance with Federal law 18 U.S.C § 922; to carry that handgun on their person unless he or she are, was, or is under reasonable cause to be – (1) under indictment for or convicted of any crime that is punishable in a juvenile, adult, or foreign court by imprisonment; (2) a fugitive from justice; (3) unlawfully under the influence of any of the controlled substances defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C § 802); (4) illegally in the United States or has renounced his or her citizenship to the United States of America and its territories; (5) committed to a mental institution; (6) convicted, sentenced, or on trial for a domestic, violent, or a treasonous crime; (7) has discussed, planned, or threatened to – (A) use the weapon to break any Federal, Rhode Island, or foreign law; (B) physically injure or kill themselves or a human being; or (C) cause destruction to property, livestock, or species protected under Federal law. (8) dishonorably discharged from any Armed Service, Federal agency, political occupation, or job in the judicial, legislative, or executive branch of the government; and (9) convicted of or a participant in a treasonous activity. § 3. Licensing. (a) If all of facets outlined in §2 do not apply to a citizen whose age is 21 years or older, that citizen has the right to obtain a concealed carry permit from that person's local law enforcement office by – (1) completing the standard Concealed Carry Permit, CCP, form; (2) completing and attaching a record for the qualification of that handgun at a firing range; (3) attaching the handgun's permit and proof of purchase receipt; (4) completing a 12 hour seminar on gun safety laws and relevant fines; (5) having no criminal record found during a mandatory background check and having his or her fingerprints placed on file; and (6) paying the required applicant fee of twenty five dollars only; (A) which is paid into that law enforcement office's discretionary budget; and (B) not paid to any other government agency. § 4. Permit Restrictions. (a) Let this concealed carry permit remain applicable to handguns only. (b) Let there be no numerical limit of the permits an eligible citizen applies for or per each household. (c) Let one concealed carry permit legally apply to one handgun only. (d) Let this permit be rendered void only if any one of the rules and regulations specified in § 2(a) of this chapter are violated, with the exception of the defense of oneself, property, or fellow human being as determined in a court of law; and (1) a fine of up to one thousand American dollars will be charged; and (2) every firearm that person owns shall be seized and destroyed or inventoried by local law enforcement. § 5. Enactment. (a) This bill shall go into effect 90 days after passage. ||

__Lobbying Plan:__
** Lobbying Plan ** ** Statement on your project: **

Every male and female citizen of the United States of America has the undeniable right to obtain a Concealed Carry Permit if that person does not have a criminal record and a history of mental illness.

** Timeline: ** We will contact politicians to introduce our proposal and discuss every possible action needed.

We will have a lawyer edit the proposed draft.

We will return as soon as time allows and we will continue to lobby for support.

** Find a sponsor (State Rep, Town Council, School Committee): **

This sponsor will be determined after we meet with Rhode Island's politicians.

** Build coalitions of support: ** We will approach the America First Party, Constitution Party, and the Libertarian Party.

** Try to work with your opposition: ** The groups organized against our efforts include the Communist Party, National Socialist Movement, and the Socialist Party.

These parties will not help us at all unless they are directly benefited. However, our movement is about freedom and justice. These parties are focused on governing and tightly controlling every person's action.

** Plan for attending committee meetings: ** We will provide a testimony that clearly states the righteousness of our proposal. This act is proposed to indefinitely help Americans and is not a political maneuver of a single party. We will clearly state how this effort is for every American who believes that freedom only lasts when it is protected.

We will produce signs for committee meeting to peacefully argue our issue.

** Flyer: **

RI's Firearm Codes

RISGR [Rhode Island Student's for Gun Rights]

Andrew Robert Nutt 124 Hidden Lake Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02874

*I believe this bill must be reformed to include citizens other than off-duty policemen to carry a concealed weapon on them.

*By allowing approved citizens to carry a concealed handgun only with a permit (CCP) they would display to the proper authority if necessary, the number of violent crimes in Rhode Island will be reduced.

*Imagine if the Virginia Tech Shooting, terrorist attacks, and any murder occurred while a citizen with a CCP was near to end it quickly after it began.

*If every citizen was taught gun safety and given the opportunity to carry a handgun, criminals would hesitate to mug people or houses, perhaps to murder and even sexually assault people because many Rhode Island citizens have taken advantage of this passed bill and have bought a weapon/ CCP and know how to use it in self-defense.

__Direct Action Plan:__
· Our goal is to significantly reduce the number of successful violent crimes in Rhode Island by educating high school students about gun safety and by awarding all qualified American citizens the right to apply for a concealed carry permit.

· We will lobby our proposed bill in a respectful manner to each individual politician by scheduling appointments.

· These meetings will occur on the closest possible date and will be concluded by inviting every political ally and opponent to an influential and nonprofit dining event to stress our issue's importance with presentations, food, and a sophisticated scene with a bar. All of the excess proceedings from this event will be donated to a scholarship fund for the children of police officers killed in the line of duty.

· The sincerity of this event will shine a prominent light on our mission as well as every politician that attends this important community project, and will educate them about the legislation we are proposing. Hopefully, this night will earn enough political support to pass this essential and proposed bill.

__Leaflet / Flyer:__

RI's Firearm Codes *I believe this bill must be reformed to include citizens other than off-duty policemen to carry a concealed weapon on them. *By allowing approved citizens to carry a concealed handgun only with a permit (CCP) they would display to the proper authority if necessary, the number of violent crimes in Rhode Island will be reduced. *Imagine if the Virginia Tech Shooting, terrorist attacks, and any murder occurred while a citizen with a CCP was near to end it quickly after it began. *If every citizen was taught gun safety and given the opportunity to carry a handgun, criminals would hesitate to mug people or houses, perhaps to murder and even sexually assault people because many Rhode Island citizens have taken advantage of this passed bill and have bought a weapon/ CCP and know how to use it in self-defense. !PLEASE CONTRIBUTE YOUR TIME TO HELP US SAVE LIVES! For more information please contact: RISGR [Rhode Island Student's for Gun Rights] Andrew Robert Nutt North Kingstown, RI 02874 __Media Advisory:__

January 11, 2011

Andrew Nutt, (401) 295-5305 [RI Students for Gun Rights]
 * CONTACT:**

[RISGR] Defending the Second Amendment [North Kingstown, RI]— More than 200 North Kingstown residents are expected to turn out on March 5, 2011 to commemorate the families of police officers killed in the line of duty, according to Andrew Nutt. RISGR has planned a community and political dining event in order to support the families of killed police officers and to educate and persuade legislators about the importance of gun safety and expanding the right of "model citizens" to include concealed carry permits.

WHO:　RI's political community, RISGR members, and community volunteers.

WHAT:　Community Banquet for the Victims of Crime

WHERE:　The Biltmore Hotel, 11 Dorrance Street, Providence

WHEN:　Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 6:00pm to 10:00pm The Issue: This nonprofit dining event stresses the importance of allowing citizens who are not members of the law enforcement community the right to apply for a concealed carry permit to protect themselves, families, and property. All of the night's excess proceedings will be donated to a scholarship fund created to aid the children of law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty.

RISGR's Mission: Our goal is to significantly reduce the number of successful violent crimes in Rhode Island by educating high school students about gun safety and the benefits it provides and by awarding all qualified American citizens the right to apply for a concealed carry permit. ###

__Press Release:__
For Immediate Release Contact: Andrew Nutt January 18, 2011 Cell: 401-123-4567 Expanding RI's Gun Rights ** New Proposed Legislature Would Grant Qualified Citizens the Right to 'Police' Themselves In Times of Attack **  North Kingstown, RI – Students at North Kingstown High School are lobbying that it is the right of all eligible American adults to carry a concealed handgun in public if he or she obeys certain regulations. These students state that this legislation would only benefit Rhode Islanders when passed by notably reducing the success rates of statewide violent crime. They believe that the Constitutional Party's comment on gun control entirely sums up their opinions on gun control – "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have them."  Doesn't the Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights directly state: “…being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” so why is it hard for people to accept this political insight?  RISGR will host a nonprofit dining event on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 6:00pm to 10:00pm that stresses the importance of allowing citizens separate from the law enforcement community, to apply for a concealed carry permit. Every received contribution will be donated to a non-profit scholarship fund that aids the family of any officer who was killed in the line of duty.  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;">This event will be held at The Biltmore Hotel on 11 Dorrance Street, Providence. It will include dinner and a presentation. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;">Event held by the Rhode Island Students for Gun Rights. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;">### <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">

__Letter to Elected Official:__
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Andrew Nutt <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">124 Hidden Lake Drive <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Saunderstown, RI 02874 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Honorable Lincoln Chafee <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Rhode Island State House <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">90 Smith Street <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Providence, RI 02903 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Governor Chafee: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> I am currently a senior at North Kingstown High School and I have a project to choose an issue to lobby and gather support for. My project focuses on the issue of expanding gun rights and I am very concerned about Rhode Island’s strict gun control laws that prohibit citizens who do not have a history of criminal and insane incidents to apply for concealed carry permits. Currently, police officers are allowed to carry their handgun in most public places and the majority do without any person the majority do without a problem. I believe that any adult who knows gun safety and who carries a handgun can stop any violent crime he or she witnesses. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">My classmates and I will present our projects at North Kingstown High School for elected officials and community members at the school cafeteria on January 27 from 7:00 to 8:00pm and I would be honored if you could find time to attend. If you can attend this night and the weather permits it, the event will occur at 150 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I hope that you will be able to attend my Dialogues in Democracy event. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Respectfully, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Andrew Nutt

__Letter to the Editor:__
Andrew Nutt 124 Hidden Lake Drive Saunderstown, RI 02874

Dear Editor,

I am currently a senior at North Kingstown High School and I am very concerned about Rhode Island’s strict gun control laws that prohibit citizens who do not have a record of mental illness and a criminal background, to apply for concealed carry permits. Currently, police officers are allowed to carry their handgun in most public places and the majority do without any person the majority do without any person knowing. Why can’t eligible citizens get concealed carry permits? Carrying a handgun can stop any violent crime or attack. This issue is very important to our national security and should be incorporated into Rhode Island law.

__**Public Service Announcement**:__

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">REMINDER: Dialogues for Democracy will be held at 7:00 PM Wednesday January 12th in the High School Cafeteria. You are required to be there.

Project Completed by: Andrew Nutt.