After losing their son to gun violence in 2022, two Johnston parents dedicated themselves to advocating for stricter gun storage regulations. Now, a year after Rhode Island passed the Safe Storage for Firearms law they fought for, David Viens and Rhonda Brewster hope to see the law renamed in their son’s memory.

On June 5, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved a bill introduced by Representative Deborah Fellela of Johnston that would rename the gun storage law “Dillon’s Law” to honor Dillon Viens. Dillon, a Johnston resident and student at Davies Career & Technical High School, died in 2022 after being shot by another juvenile at a Johnston home. The shooter accessed the firearm after the homeowner left it unsecured.

“It was just such a tragedy,” Fellela, who co-sponsored the original gun storage bill, told the SunRise. “Dillon had his whole life ahead of him, just a good kid.”

“The parents have worked tirelessly to get this [bill] forward,” she said.

The original Safe Storage of Firearms law, passed in 2024, stipulates that firearms must be stored in secured or locked containers when not in use, or equipped with a tamper-resistant lock or other safety device. Gun owners who fail to store their firearms properly can face fines and potential imprisonment, with more severe consequences possible if a child or someone prohibited from accessing a firearm accesses the weapons.

Fellela’s bill to rename the law after Dillon passed the House with overwhelming support. The bill will now move to the Senate for approval, where it awaits a sponsor. 

“I just felt like it’ll keep my son’s name alive,” said David Viens. However, he made it clear that he believes the issue of gun violence goes beyond the personal loss of his son.

“He represents all the kids that’s passed through the violence,” he said. 

Viens, who used to go on hiking and fishing trips with Dillon’s friends, worries about what could happen to other families if firearms are handled carelessly. “I always had his friends with me, and I hate the thought of that happening to them, too,” he said.

Rhonda Brewster said she hopes that passing the bill would mean Dillon’s name would come to represent a change for the better.

“Honestly, I feel good that it made it through the House, that Dillon’s name will get some recognition positively,” she said. “Especially when it comes to our children and remaining safe.”

Though the “Dillon’s Law” bill received 66 votes to pass through the House, four representatives voted against it. House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale, who voted against the bill, did not support the original gun storage legislation that passed in 2024.

“The loss of young Dillon Viens is a horrific and heartbreaking tragedy, and my heart goes out to his family and loved ones who continue to carry the weight of that loss,” Chippendale said in an emailed statement to the SunRise. He added, “While honoring the memory of those we’ve lost is important, using emotionally charged tragedies to bolster the appeal of specific legislation risks blurring the line between sound policymaking and symbolic gestures.”

Brewster said she plans to continue advocating for gun safety legislation and to educate herself on relevant laws. 

“We’re not people who are opposed to people having firearms in the home,” Brewster said. “We’re not against that. We just want people to be smart and wise.”

 According to Brewster, legal proceedings related to Dillon’s death continue for both the juvenile shooter and the adult gunowner who left the firearm unsecured.

“Our fight for Dillon is not over yet,” she said. “We’re still steadfast in making sure that justice is served.”