OUR GOALS

The goal of CRAL is to educate the public and lawmakers on the true effects of gun control upon our society and counter the anti-firearm misinformation campaigns in order to promote the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, hunt and participate in shooting sports.

"It is our aim to ban the manufacture and sale of hanguns to private individuals".
Coalition to Stop Violence, recruiting flyer.

"I don't believe gun owners have rights".
Sarah Brady, Hearst Newspapwers, Special Report, Oct., 1997.

"I think there should be a law that no one can have a gun in the U.S.
If you have a gun, you go to jail".
Rosie O'Donnell, The Ottawa Sun, April 29, 1999.

CRAL will promote pro-firearm legislation to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens and support gun laws that restrict criminal activity and toughen sentences for criminals that use guns.

Specifically, we are looking to:

  •  have the police chiefs of all RI cities and towns obey the existing "shall issue" carry permit law
  •  eliminate the waiting period for purchase of new firearms in favor of an 'instant check' system
  •  restrict criminal access to firearms
  •  support tougher, mandatory jail sentences for all crimes involving firearms

"Today, we need a nation of minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms,
but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life
and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom".
John F. Kennedy

"Certainly one of the chief guarantees of freedom under any government,
no matter how popular and respected, is the right of citizens to keep and bear arms...
The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against arbitrary government,
one more safeguard against tyranny..."
Hubert Humphrey

The problem with the current waiting day period for purchases of new firearms is that it delays the purchase of firearms for law-abiding citizens who may have an immediate need to protect themselves and their families. Additionally, it does nothing to hinder criminals.

                USA Today reported that many of the people rushing to gun stores
            during the 1992 riots were "lifelong gun control advocates, running to buy
              an item they thought they'd never need."  Ironically, they were outraged
                 to discover they had to wait 15 days to buy a gun for self-defense.
                         Jonathan T. Lovitt, "Survival for the armed," USA Today, May 4, 1992

It has been proven that waiting periods do NOT reduce crime.  Following is a statement from Dr. John Lott Jr. from the University of Chicago School of Law:

"The national five day waiting period under the Brady Bill had no impact on murder or robbery, but slightly increased rape and aggravated assault rates by a few percent.  Thus, for two crime categories, the major effect was to delay law-abiding citizens from getting a gun for protection.  The risks were greatest for crimes against women."
Furthermore, the Justice Department's "Survey of Incarcerated Felons" showed that 93% of handgun predators had obtained their most recent guns "off-the-record".  Press reports show that the few criminals who get their guns from retail outlets can easily get fake IDs or use surrogate buyers, known as "straw purchasers," to buy their guns.