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Governor Cooper Supports Red Flag Policies

Several states have signed red flag policies to help keep guns away from people who pose threats and NC Governor Roy Cooper's office says he would support a similar law here.
Gov. Cooper talks about House Bill 90

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order Monday establishing a statewide "red flag" policy to help keep guns away from people "who pose a danger to themselves and others."

Rhode Island becomes the sixth state to take the action and the first since the Feb. 14 shooting rampage at a Florida high school that claimed the lives of 17 students and staff.

Other states may soon follow. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has proposed measures to ensure that mentally ill or violent people from purchasing guns. Vermont Gov. Gov. Phil Scott asked his Legislature to fast-track a bill to temporarily remove guns from people deemed dangerous.

"The heartbreaking shooting in Parkland has once again proven that if the federal government won't act, states need to do more to prevent the gun violence that has become far too common," Raimondo said at a signing ceremony Monday in Warwick.

When asked, a spokesman for North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper's office said the governor would support a similar law. The statement said, "Governor Cooper believes we must do more to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those who are dangerously mentally ill, and would support a law such as red flag alerts to help achieve that."

Raimondo called the executive order "an immediate step we can take to make residents safer." The bill does not provide additional tools for law enforcement, but urges the use of all available legal steps. Raimondo said the order "sets the table" for state lawmakers to tackle the controversial issue of gun control.

State House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has co-sponsored legislation that would allow courts to order guns seized from people deemed a serious threat to themselves or others. State Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin is sponsoring red flag legislation in the Senate.

The executive order directs law enforcement agencies to consider all red flags, including recent threats of violence made in person, in videos and on social media. It also calls for a state public information campaign to raise awareness of red flags that indicate a person could be a violent threat.

Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, called the executive order a major victory for Rhode Islanders and an encouraging sign for the nation.

"This is the first executive action on red flags since Parkland, and our thousands of advocates in Rhode Island and around the country could not be more proud that this effort," Watts said.

California, Connecticut, Indiana, Oregon and Washington also have some version of a red flag laws, and several other states are considering legislation.

Last week, Oregon lawmakers banned people convicted of stalking and domestic violence or under restraining orders from buying or owning guns or ammunition.

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