Fox News host Lawrence Jones has controversially stated that transgender people should be prohibited from owning firearms in the aftermath of a tragic mass shooting at a Rhode Island ice hockey arena. Jones made these remarks during a discussion on the network's program The Five, seizing on the recent incident to advance a contentious political argument.
Details of the Pawtucket Shooting Incident
The shooting occurred on Monday at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, located approximately five miles from Providence. During a youth hockey game, 56-year-old Robert Dorgan fatally shot his son and ex-wife before taking his own life. The incident sent shockwaves through the local community and has sparked national debate.
Lawrence Jones' Controversial Commentary
On Tuesday's broadcast, Jones explicitly linked the shooter's transgender identity to gun violence prevention. "If you are someone that just wants to wear a dress, no problems," Jones stated. "If you are someone that just wants to identify as another sex, but you know deep down that you're not, but you just want to be called 'he' or 'she' that's one thing. But if you, from a psychological standpoint, think that you are another sex, you should not have a gun."
Jones further elaborated: "Something that has been diagnosed as gender dysphoria is a problem. If you mentally think you're someone that you are not, that has to be addressed." His comments reflect a position increasingly adopted by some conservative commentators who seek to connect transgender identity with mental health concerns regarding firearm access.
Background on the Shooter
Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name "Roberta," had undergone gender reassignment surgery in 2020. Court and police records reveal a complex family situation marked by significant conflict. Following his surgery, Dorgan reported to police that his father-in-law had reacted negatively and allegedly threatened him with violence involving "an Asian street gang."
The father-in-law faced charges including witness intimidation, though these were eventually dismissed. Additionally, Dorgan's mother was accused of assault and disorderly conduct, but her case was also thrown out. Amid this familial turmoil, Dorgan's marriage deteriorated and ended in divorce in 2021.
Divorce Proceedings and Personal Struggles
In the initial divorce filing, Dorgan's then-wife Rhonda cited "gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits" as reasons for the separation. However, these specific grounds were later removed from the legal documents and replaced with the more generic "irreconcilable differences which have caused the immediate breakdown of the marriage." At the time of the divorce, records indicated Dorgan was working as a truck driver and residing in Jacksonville, Florida.
Broader Context and Statistics
Jones' comments occur against a backdrop where the vast majority of mass shooting perpetrators are cisgender men, accounting for up to 98 percent of such incidents according to the Violence Prevention Project. While being transgender is not classified as a mental disorder, many transgender individuals receive a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder to access necessary healthcare services.
Historical Precedents and Political Reactions
This is not the first time such proposals have surfaced in political discourse. The Trump administration's Justice Department previously considered banning transgender people from gun ownership following a 2025 shooting in Minneapolis where a transgender woman killed two children and injured eighteen others at a Catholic church. That proposal faced significant opposition from major Second Amendment advocacy groups, including the National Rifle Association, which stated unequivocally that "the Second Amendment isn't up for debate."
As investigations into the Pawtucket shooting continue, Jones' remarks have ignited fresh controversy about the intersection of transgender rights, mental health discourse, and gun control policy in America.
