Rep. Giarrusso Calls for Stricter Bomb Laws

REP. GIARRUSSO CALLS FOR STRICTER BOMB LAWS

5/2/2018

Providence, RI - State Representative Anthony Giarrusso (House District 30, East Greenwich and West Greenwich) is researching a legislative solution for individuals in Rhode Island found to be involved in bomb-making.

Rhode Island State House

Rep. Giarrusso’s initiative is in response to a pressure cooker bomb found on Hopkins Hill Road in West Greenwich. The device was constructed in a similar way to those used during the tragic Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. Thankfully, no one was hurt and several juveniles were implicated after police tracked similar appliances to residences in East Greenwich. The incident has raised concerns from law enforcement officials about how well Rhode Island’s explosive laws protect citizens in the modern age of domestic terrorism.

“This is all about preventing a tragedy here in Rhode Island,” said Rep. Giarrusso. “This is a difficult topic to legislate but if the current laws fail to address these new circumstances we need to update them. You cannot just arrest people for buying things that may be considered bomb-making materials like nitrogen fertilizer or pressure cookers, but we cannot ignore the fact that home-made explosive devices are being built in our state.

“I have asked our legal counsel at the State House to investigate this further and work with me to develop an effective response. If new legislation is what we need to protect people in Rhode Island from these devices, for which there really is only one use, I will file it immediately and ask that the General Assembly act during this legislative session,” Rep. Giarrusso said.

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In 1636, Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, established the first working model of Democracy after being banished from Massachusetts for his “extreme views” concerning freedom of speech and religion. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams publicly acknowledged Williams as the originator of these concepts, along with the freedom of public assembly, in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Today, Rhode Island House Republicans uphold the liberties designed by our Founders and preserved in our Constitution, and are the primary legislative body promoting lean government, fighting for lower taxes, and advocating for initiatives and policies that improve the economy and in turn, the lives of Rhode Islanders. As members of a part-time assembly, we are small business owners, retired educators, community activists, lawyers, farmers, military service veterans, volunteers, former local officials, retired social workers, coaches, musicians, churchgoers and board directors -- bringing these community engagement and professional experiences to our work, on your behalf, at the Rhode Island State House.