Raimondo issues executive order extending firearm background check from 7 days to 30

(WJAR) — Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo has signed an executive order that extends background checks for firearm purchases from seven days to 30.

The move was made because of a recent run on gun purchases that are overwhelming police forces.

Earlier this week, NBC 10 reported on this spike.

The executive order was signed on Friday and it was sent to media with an attached letter from the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association that referenced the significant amount of gun applications.

According to a letter from the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association Sidney Wordell, the number of applications is having a strain on local police department as the backgrounds need to be made within the seven days or the purchaser would be able to get the weapon without a background check.

As an example, Wordell said Warwick PD got an average of 28 applications a day before the run, and now they got 404 in just three days.

The association asked the governor to extend the deadline to 30 days.

The executive order grandfathers in all applications from March 13. The new extended deadline will be in effect until April 19, according to the order.

Here is the letter from the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association.