How Unaffiliated Voters Can Take Down These Anti-Gun Senators

PROVIDENCE, RI – Senate Bill S0359, titled the “Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025,” was introduced on February 21, 2025. This bill seeks to prohibit the manufacture, sale, transfer, and possession of commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, forcing current owners to either register, surrender, or participate in a buyback program.

This is not an isolated effort. Many of the same senators behind this bill were instrumental in passing Rhode Island’s magazine ban in 2022 (S2653), which criminalized the possession of magazines holding more than 10 rounds. That bill passed with overwhelming support from anti-gun legislators, with a 25-11 vote in the Senate.

Now, these same senators are back for more. With ten Democratic senators sponsoring S0359 and their party holding a 34-4 super-majority in the Senate, they are betting that they can steamroll Rhode Island gun owners once again.

These Senators Must Be Defeated

Make no mistake, the only way to stop these attacks on gun rights is at the ballot box.

We urge you to call and email your legislators (contact info at the bottom of the post), but it’s not enough. These anti-gun senators have been re-elected repeatedly, and most of them ran unopposed in either their Democratic primary or general election. They know they can push gun bans with little fear of backlash.

That needs to change.

Where These Senators Are Vulnerable

Here’s the reality: Several of the sponsors of S0359 could have been defeated in their primaries with just a few hundred votes.

• Senator Susan Sosnowski (District 37, South Kingstown) won her Democratic primary by only 569 votes—a highly vulnerable margin. With 2,354 registered Republicans and 8,845 unaffiliated voters, there is a clear opportunity to remove her in a primary and push a pro-2A challenger in the general.
• Senator Lammis Vargas (District 28, Cranston, Providence) barely survived a five-way primary race, winning by just 136 votes. With 8,126 unaffiliated voters and 1,901 Republicans this provides a strong base for a challenge.
• Senate Majority Leader Valarie Lawson (District 14, East Providence) won her 2024 Democratic primary by just 1,046 votes. With 8,469 unaffiliated voters, in the district more than four times the total primary turnout, a get out the vote effort could have swung the race. 2,193 Republicans had the potential to influence the outcome as well. Lawson could have been removed

Other key Senators, Like the bill’s primary sponsor, Lou DiPalma (District 12) , ran unopposed in his primary. There are several others that ran unopposed as well.

A unified pro-2A challenge, rather than a crowded primary, could keep them from winning a re-election

The full list of sponsors and their election data is below. Take note of their vote totals, we can impact these races, especially the Primaries, if we show up.

The Sponsors of S0359

Walter Felag

District 10 – Bristol, Tiverton, Warren
First Elected: 1998

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	Unopposed	1,097	1097	1097
General	2 Way Race	14,927	8,641	2,391

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
21,852	6,885	3,541	11,426

(as of publication)

Lou DiPalma

District 12 – Middletown, Newport, Tiverton, Little Compton
First Elected: 2008

Primary Sponsor

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	Unopposed	1,213	1,213	1,213
General	Unopposed	11,548	11,140	10,732

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
21,222	7,072	3,391	10,759

(as of publication)

Valarie Lawson

District 14 – East Providence
First Elected: 2018

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	2 Way Race	2,070	1,558	1,046
General	Unopposed	9,490	8,936	8,382

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
18,941	8,279	2,193	8,469

(as of publication)

Melissa Murray

District 24 – Woonsocket, North Smithfield
First Elected: 2018

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	Unopposed	754	754	754
General	2 Way Race	7,759	4,476	1,217

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
15,266	5,143	2,322	7,801

(as of publication)

Hanna Gallo

District 27 – Cranston, West Warwick
First Elected: 1998

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	Unopposed	1,348	1,348	1,348
General	Unopposed	12,269	11,554	10,839

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
22,064	6,412	3,557	12,095

(as of publication)

Lammis Vargas

District 28 – Cranston, Providence
First Elected: 2024

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	5 Way Race	2,623	959	136
General	Unopposed	9,693	9,242	8,791

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
18,745	8,719	1,901	8,126

(as of publication)

Matthew LaMountain

District 31 – Warwick
First Elected: 2022

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	Unopposed	1,578	1,578	1,578
General	2 Way Race	14,700	8,871	3,077

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
21,392	6,967	3,098	11,327

(as of publication)

Pamela Lauria

District 32 – Barrington, Bristol, East Providence
First Elected: 2022

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	Unopposed	2,046	2,046	2,046
General	Unopposed	13,714	12,072	12,430

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
23,280	9,090	3,037	11,153

(as of publication)

Bridget Valverde

District 35 – East Greenwich, Narragansett, North Kingstown, South Kingstown
First Elected: 2018

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	Unopposed	1,188	1,188	1,188
General	Unopposed	13,373	12,621	11,869

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
23,137	7,310	3,841	12,986

(as of publication)

Susan Sosnowski

District 37 – South Kingstown
First Elected: 2018

2024 Election Performance

Election	Status	Total Votes	Votes Received	Winning Margin
Dem Primary	2 Way Race	2,183	1,376	569
General	2 Way Race	12,904	8,517	4,161

District Voter Registration

Registered Voters	Registered Democrats	Registered Republicans	Registered Unaffiliated
17,770	6,571	2,354	8,845

(as of publication)

The Next Steps: How We Win

S0359 is heading to the Senate Judiciary Committee soon. March is here, and anti-gun legislators are counting on low engagement from gun owners.

Here’s how we change that:

1. Call and Email These Senators – Tell them to withdraw their support for S0359 (contact information is at the bottom of this post). Be respectful but firm—they need to hear from you.
2. Disaffiliate and Vote in the Primaries – The best way to remove these anti-gun senators is through the Democratic primaries. Many of them win simply because no one challenges them.
3. Pack the Statehouse – Attend the hearings in force. Pro-2A voices need to be louder than the gun control lobby.
4. Recruit Pro-2A Challengers – We need strong candidates in these districts. If you know someone willing to run—or if you’re willing yourself—step up. If you are interested in challenge any of these candidates reach out to us we can help!
5. Spread the Word – Share this post. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Most gun owners don’t even know who their state senator is—that has to change.

Time to Take Action

The anti-gun majority in the Rhode Island Senate believes they are untouchable. The only way to prove them wrong is to organize, vote, and remove them from office. Let’s get to work!