NORTH SMITHFIELD – A resolution opposing legislation that would tighten Rhode Island’s gun laws passed in a split vote by the Town Council Monday night before a standing-room-only crowd.
Donning yellow t-shirts, gun rights advocates flooded the meeting to show support for the agenda item, proposed by Councilors David Punchak and John Beauregard.
“We don’t get to cherry pick the parts of the constitution we like and we don’t like,” said Beauregard of the controversial state legislation, dubbed the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025. “This has more to do with an agenda than it does gun safety.”
Modeled after similar text passed by the Lincoln Town Council in March, North Smithfield’s resolution comes following House passage of the proposed statewide ban, which would would prohibit the sale and manufacturing of semi-automatic firearms, including what critics say are commonly owned rifles, handguns and shotguns, beginning July 1, 2026.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is reportedly set to decide on Wednesday, June 18 if the bill should go the floor for a full vote.
“It ties the hands of law-abiding gun owners,” said Beauregard. “The criminals are still going to do what they want.”
Councilor Rebecca DeCristofaro, who ultimately voted against the town’s resolution, said that in researching the issue, she learned that Rhode Island has the lowest number of gun-related deaths in the country, and that 63 percent of gun-related violent crimes committed in the state involved weapons that are already illegal.
“I do realize that the majority of gun violence that occurs within this state is obviously not as the result of law abiding citizens,” she said.
“On the other side of this, I am the mother of a young child,” DeCristofaro said. “I do, as a mother, have very real fears of my child going to school every day.”
Punchak said he received some criticism for co-sponsoring the town’s resolution opposing the weapons ban.
“I did think that it was an important issue that may not have made it on to an agenda if I did not co-sponsor it,” said Punchak. “I wanted to give both sides the opportunity to have their voices heard. That was my whole point of putting it on the agenda.”
Public input on the issues was brief, with a sea of yellow shirts conveying which side of the debate most in attendance were on. Resident James Aubin delivered a petition with 63 signatures in support of the resolution deeming the proposed state law unconstitutional.
“All the people that really want the Second Amendment banned… they’re the same ones that keep saying there’s a tyrant in the White House,” said Aubin. “That’s why we have the Second Amendment. To protect us from tyrants.”
Councilor Claire O’Hara’s statement was also brief.
“Everyone has a right, as our constitution guarantees it,” O’Hara said.
Council President Kimberly Alves questioned the need to weigh in on the issue at the town level.
“Once the state votes, it’s really a moot point for us,” Alves said, adding that the topic was “difficult.”
“Obviously, we’re all going to have different views on this,” she said.
Beauregard said that the resolution was placed on the council’s agenda to “send a message to the statehouse,” noting 15 other Rhode Island municipalities have registered similar opposition.
The item passed with a vote of 3-2 with Alves and DeCristofaro in the minority.
Rebecca Decristofaro – “I’m a mom, I think about mass shootings daily”. Code for NO ONE should have a gun….
Kim Alves – “What’s the point of this? Whatever happens at the state level is going to happen anyway, no need to make people vote on this “ Code for I don’t care about your rights, I won’t advocate for the majority of our town and we should rollover to the democratic machine at the state level.
Please remember these positions of both of these councilors at the ballot box next election