RICAGV: Tiverton voters recall town councilors who championed ‘second amendment sanctuary’ resolution – Uprise RI

Tiverton voted to recall Town Council President Robert Coulter and Town Council Vice President Justin Katz in the special recall election on October 10. Nearly 1,600 voters voted yes to the recall with only 80 votes cast in favor of Coulter and Katz. Katz blamed the defeat on on the statewide machine of political action committees, including the teachers union, that sent out numerous mailers and others who put bunches of political talk and lies, on social media to get people out to vote.

The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV) is encouraged by the recall results. Coulter and Katz led the introduction last spring of a resolution declaring Tiverton a second amendment sanctuary town. With a room packed with out-of-town folks and residents, the resolution was defeated 4-3, only to be revised and brought back at a later date for passage. The resolution directed law enforcement to enforce gun laws with discretion. The councilors also made it known that they were using their elected positions to send a message to the State House regarding their views on gun legislation.

Second amendment sanctuary resolutions are dangerous because they advance the false narrative that the Second Amendment is at risk, making law-abiding gun owners feel threatened and contributing to the sort of hysteria that leads many to vehemently oppose any measure at all that regulates gun possession, no matter the weapon or the threat to public safety.

I am satisfied that these councilors were recalled. The introduction and passage of this resolution was the last straw for many who had watched them push their political agenda outside the conventions of town governance. It sowed division in a town already divided, said RICAGV supporter and Tiverton resident, Maureen Morrow. Furthermore, it contained incendiary and false language about seized weapons stating the town would not use taxpayer dollars to store weapons. No present or proposed law in Rhode Island calls for seizing weapons.

RICAGV looks forward to seeing who will go on to replace Coulter and Katz in the General election scheduled next month.

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RICAGV: Tiverton voters recall town councilors who championed 'second amendment sanctuary' resolution - Uprise RI