NEW: Hearing on Gun Bills Postponed Due to Coronavirus Concerns With Large Crowd Expected

NEW: Hearing on Gun Bills Postponed Due to Coronavirus Concerns With Large Crowd Expected

The House Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday night — which included bills introduced to ban possession and sale of assault weapons and large capacity feeding devices — has been postponed, due to the expectation of a large crowd. 

Bills: See the Legislation Scheduled to be Heard HERE

The Rhode Island General Assembly released the following statement:

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"Upon the recommendation of Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, tonight’s House Judiciary Committee hearing has been postponed and will be rescheduled to a later date because a large crowd was expected for the hearing.  All other House committee hearings will be held as scheduled this evening.

The following is the statement from Director Alexander-Scott, forwarded to us by Neil Hytinen, chief public affairs officer of the RI Department of Health:

'Director Nicole Alexander-Scott is informing the Speaker it is her strong suggestion that as much as possible large events be postponed or rescheduled in order to limit the spread of COVID 19. Because COVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within roughly 6 feet), canceling or postponing large events is an important tool to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Rhode Island. 

Measures such as these are most effective at limiting the spread of disease when implemented before a community is seeing widespread transmission. Additional details and guidance on mass gatherings will be forthcoming today.'”