Latest news with #JasonKnight
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
City have squad for Struber's new style
Bristol City captain Jason Knight says the new style of play implemented by head coach Gerhard Struber will suit the wants to bring in a more aggressive, attacking-minded style this season, since being appointed in June. "I think we've definitely got the squad for it - we've got a young, hungry group that want to be aggressive, on the front foot and hopefully the fans will see that and the results will back it up," Knight told BBC Radio Bristol."Hopefully it can improve me and bring out the best in me - but that's down to me performing as well." Midfielder Knight led the Robins to the play-offs last season for the first time in 17 years and he said the team need to aim as high again this campaign."You want to keep building, there's no point standing still - we've got to go again, push on more this season and that's what we're going to try and do," Knight said."We're ambitious players, we're ambitious as a club and we've got to reflect that on the pitch as well."We've got to back that up and demand a standard of ourselves in the squad that we go again and push for that same level of success and go for more."
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
How Rhode Island finally pushed a partial assault weapons ban over the finish line
Passing a new law restricting assault weapons took Rhode Island lawmakers more than 10 years, but it may offer a road map to other states looking to ease the proliferation of such firearms. For advocates, the fight is a prime example of the current challenges to passing gun control measures in the U.S., particularly surrounding semiautomatic rifles that have become the weapon of choice among those responsible for most of the country's devastating mass shootings. When Rhode Island's bill was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Dan McKee late last month, its sponsor, Democratic Rep. Jason Knight, told jubilant supporters: 'What was once the impossible became the inevitable.' How? Persistent advocacy, a change in legislative leadership and a last-minute overhaul to note the broader legal landscape. What did Rhode Island do? Rhode Island's ban, which goes into effect in 2026, prohibits the sale, manufacturing and distribution of certain high-powered firearms that were once banned nationwide. The law does not prohibit possessing such weapons, a key distinction compared with other assault weapon bans enacted elsewhere in the U.S. Currently, only Washington state has a similar law. A leadership change helped propel momentum The assault weapons ban got a much-needed boost from Senate President Valerie Lawson, who secured the Senate's top spot in the middle of session after her predecessor, Sen. Dominick Ruggiero, died in April. Lawson turned to the bill's sponsors and others to find common ground between lawmakers in the House and Senate who remained split on how far the law should go. Lawson's endorsement was seen as critical to securing the bill's passage, whereas Ruggiero had previously deferred action, pointing instead to the need for Congress to act rather than a state Legislature taking the lead. 'There are issues at certain points that meet the moment,' Lawson said. 'I think it was the time for this." Gun control advocates also acknowledged that banning assault weapons in Rhode Island hadn't previously been a top priority given that the state has largely been spared from national high-profile shootings that sometimes help propel legislative change. Assault weapons bans consistently face court challenges In the U.S., just 11 states and Washington D.C. have some sort of prohibition on certain high-powered firearms that were once banned nationwide. Rhode Island's version is the only one not yet facing a constitutional challenge — though a lawsuit against it is all but assured. Certain state legal battles are on hold until others make their way through lower federal courts. To date, none of the lawsuits have been completely thrown out, but the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to have the final say. As Rhode Island lawmakers were in the middle of their gun debate, the high court declined to hear a challenge to Maryland 's assault weapons ban — a move that some of the more conservative justices opposed. Justice Brett Kavanaugh even signaled that laws banning assault weapons are likely unconstitutional. 'Opinions from other Courts of Appeals should assist this Court's ultimate decision making on the AR–15 issue,' Kavanaugh wrote, referencing a popular style of high-powered rifle. Yet the legal focus on banning such weapons often hinges on possessing firearms such as AR-15-style rifles and AK-47s, rather than on the distribution process. Rhode Island lawmakers hope that by tailoring their assault weapons ban to sales, manufacturing and distribution, they might will bypass the thorniest legal questions raised by the Second Amendment. What other states are doing Attempts to expand Democratic-dominated Hawaii's assault weapons ban to rifles in addition to pistols stalled this year. In New Mexico, Democratic lawmakers who control the General Assembly adjourned without taking up an assault weapon ban. In Rhode Island, advocates say their work isn't over. 'It's progress,' said Melissa Carden, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence. 'But we know that a true assault weapons ban includes an enforceable ban on possession as well." Defenders of Rhode Island's law bristle that their version could be considered weak. They point out that residents looking to purchase an assault weapon from nearby New Hampshire or elsewhere will be blocked. That's because federal law prohibits people from traveling to a different state to purchase a gun and returning it to a state where that particular of weapon is banned. 'Some of my constituents have already called me and made comments about 'bad, bad bad, I'm going out and buying three and four of them now,'' said Sen. Louis DiPalma, the Senate sponsor of the statute. 'Okay, come July 1st next year, you will not be able to do that anymore.'
Associated Press
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
How Rhode Island finally pushed a partial assault weapons ban over the finish line
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Passing a new law restricting assault weapons took Rhode Island lawmakers more than 10 years, but it may offer a road map to other states looking to ease the proliferation of such firearms. For advocates, the fight is a prime example of the current challenges to passing gun control measures in the U.S., particularly surrounding semiautomatic rifles that have become the weapon of choice among those responsible for most of the country's devastating mass shootings. When Rhode Island's bill was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Dan McKee late last month, its sponsor, Democratic Rep. Jason Knight, told jubilant supporters: 'What was once the impossible became the inevitable.' How? Persistent advocacy, a change in legislative leadership and a last-minute overhaul to note the broader legal landscape. What did Rhode Island do? Rhode Island's ban, which goes into effect in 2026, prohibits the sale, manufacturing and distribution of certain high-powered firearms that were once banned nationwide. The law does not prohibit possessing such weapons, a key distinction compared with other assault weapon bans enacted elsewhere in the U.S. Currently, only Washington state has a similar law. A leadership change helped propel momentum The assault weapons ban got a much-needed boost from Senate President Valerie Lawson, who secured the Senate's top spot in the middle of session after her predecessor, Sen. Dominick Ruggiero, died in April. Lawson turned to the bill's sponsors and others to find common ground between lawmakers in the House and Senate who remained split on how far the law should go. Lawson's endorsement was seen as critical to securing the bill's passage, whereas Ruggiero had previously deferred action, pointing instead to the need for Congress to act rather than a state Legislature taking the lead. 'There are issues at certain points that meet the moment,' Lawson said. 'I think it was the time for this.' Gun control advocates also acknowledged that banning assault weapons in Rhode Island hadn't previously been a top priority given that the state has largely been spared from national high-profile shootings that sometimes help propel legislative change. Assault weapons bans consistently face court challenges In the U.S., just 11 states and Washington D.C. have some sort of prohibition on certain high-powered firearms that were once banned nationwide. Rhode Island's version is the only one not yet facing a constitutional challenge — though a lawsuit against it is all but assured. Certain state legal battles are on hold until others make their way through lower federal courts. To date, none of the lawsuits have been completely thrown out, but the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to have the final say. As Rhode Island lawmakers were in the middle of their gun debate, the high court declined to hear a challenge to Maryland's assault weapons ban — a move that some of the more conservative justices opposed. Justice Brett Kavanaugh even signaled that laws banning assault weapons are likely unconstitutional. 'Opinions from other Courts of Appeals should assist this Court's ultimate decision making on the AR–15 issue,' Kavanaugh wrote, referencing a popular style of high-powered rifle. Yet the legal focus on banning such weapons often hinges on possessing firearms such as AR-15-style rifles and AK-47s, rather than on the distribution process. Rhode Island lawmakers hope that by tailoring their assault weapons ban to sales, manufacturing and distribution, they might will bypass the thorniest legal questions raised by the Second Amendment. What other states are doingAttempts to expand Democratic-dominated Hawaii's assault weapons ban to rifles in addition to pistols stalled this year. In New Mexico, Democratic lawmakers who control the General Assembly adjourned without taking up an assault weapon ban. In Rhode Island, advocates say their work isn't over. 'It's progress,' said Melissa Carden, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence. 'But we know that a true assault weapons ban includes an enforceable ban on possession as well.' Defenders of Rhode Island's law bristle that their version could be considered weak. They point out that residents looking to purchase an assault weapon from nearby New Hampshire or elsewhere will be blocked. That's because federal law prohibits people from traveling to a different state to purchase a gun and returning it to a state where that particular of weapon is banned. 'Some of my constituents have already called me and made comments about 'bad, bad bad, I'm going out and buying three and four of them now,'' said Sen. Louis DiPalma, the Senate sponsor of the statute. 'Okay, come July 1st next year, you will not be able to do that anymore.'
Irish Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kevin Kilbane: Weak in midfield and toothless up front, Ireland now left clinging to blind hope
I'm back in Ireland this week. Out west in Galway and Mayo . There is no better way to judge the mood of our nation towards the men's football team than over a few pints in Westport. The same question is continually asked: how do we beat Hungary in September's World Cup qualifier? Gone are the days when bigger football countries feared a manic night at Lansdowne Road. There is still no sign of an Irish midfielder who can take possession, pass it forward and put the opposition under pressure. READ MORE After an impressive season for Bristol City, Jason Knight was invited to nail down the position against Senegal and Luxembourg. A relentless athlete without the ball, he's no number six. John Patrick, Killian Phillips and Will Smallbone were also given chances to impress at training and in the games, but the rested Josh Cullen remains the only midfielder Ireland can truly rely on. We know Cullen is a good player without being a visionary passer. Nobody is coming to save this Ireland team. We have what we have heading into the 2026 World Cup campaign. Chiedozie Ogbene has been missed since his achilles tendon tear. It's not just his pace. Ogbene keeps the crowd and his teammates engaged by chasing lost causes and somehow winning the ball back. Kasey McAteer did well in Ogbene's role down the right during the draws against Senegal and Luxembourg. I actually thought the performance against Senegal last week was all right. However, every person I have encountered this week, for the inevitable football chats before the Luxembourg game, could not see any positives through all the negatives. Nil-nil in Luxembourg damaged Irish football's reputation. Ninety minutes from a flight to somewhere sunny and stress-free, the players were unable to produce a performance. This happens in June. Take Nathan Collins. After playing every minute for Brentford in the Premier League last season, the captain admitted to being physically and mentally spent. [ No shortage of effort, but Ireland fail to find the net against Luxembourg Opens in new window ] At least Heimir Hallgrímsson told Tony O'Donoghue on RTÉ that the performance was nowhere near the standard required. He even said the first-half 'boring'. Previous managers have done themselves no favours by clinging to vague positives when the truth is obvious to see. Call it what it was and move on. The players have already forgotten, I guarantee you that. So, how do we beat Hungary on September 6th? Honestly, I have no idea. The glass is half empty at the moment. Under Stephen Kenny, when it really mattered, Ireland produced one brilliant performance at home to France , only to lose 1-0 in that opening Euro 2024 qualifier. Collins's late header drew a phenomenal save from Mike Maignan. Séamus Coleman marked Kylian Mbappé into obscurity in a leader's performance that showed how much Kenny missed his injury-cursed right-back. France goalkeeper Mike Maignan saves from Nathan Collins in 2023, during one of Ireland's best performances in recent years. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Knight was an all-action, defensive cog that evening. That's what he does. The other time Ireland under Kenny were faced with a nowhere-to-hide situation, against Greece in Athens two years ago, the selection of Smallbone and Adam Idah backfired as the 2-1 loss made it clear that Kenny's days in the job were numbered. What really concerns me is Evan Ferguson's performance against Luxembourg. Let's not panic. He's still only 20. The West Ham loan did not work out. Brighton appear to have moved past him as well. But the version of Ferguson, at 18 and 19 years old, who briefly lit up the Premier League, has gone missing in the past 18 months. The physicality is not there. We know about the injuries. We don't know how much they have stunted his progress. We do know that he is no longer backing into top defenders and looking likely to score. Maybe Ferguson needs to look at Troy Parrott's career path. When life at Tottenham Hotspur did not pan out, Parrott moved to the Eredivisie in Holland, where he has accumulated 37 goals in two seasons. Troy Parrott's career has been rejuvenated by his move to the Eredivisie. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho It was suggested in January that a club like Bayer Leverkusen might get Ferguson's career back on track. Unless Adam Idah hits the ground running at Celtic in August, Parrott deserves to start against Hungary, ideally with Sammie Szmodics, Finn Azaz and Ogbene backing him up. We have what we have. Add Robbie Brady's left foot to the equation and the blind hope starts to rise again. We're going to need big performances right across the team and a rub of the green come September. Speaking of blind hope, Mayo to beat Donegal in the Hyde on Sunday.
Irish Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Heimir Hallgrímsson unlikely to spring a surprise against Luxembourg
Friendly international: Luxembourg v Republic of Ireland, Stade de Luxembourg, Tuesday, 7.45pm – Live on RTÉ 2 Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson invited the travelling media to watch the Monday morning session at Stade de Luxembourg, where the bones of a potential line-up played the rest of his 24-man panel. Bosun Lawal and John Joe Patrick Finn anchored midfield for the orange bibs but neither is expected to win a first cap against the Grand Duchy, certainly not from the start. The other nine on show, however, could feature when Hungary come to Dublin for the crucial opening World Cup qualifier on September 6th. Brentford's new goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher is a certainty, although Bristol City's Max O'Leary might make his debut as a half-time substitute against Luxembourg on Tuesday night. READ MORE The back four that started Friday's 1-1 draw with Senegal – Matt Doherty, skipper Nathan Collins, Dara O'Shea and Robbie Brady – is expected to see one change, with Liam Scales replacing O'Shea. The Celtic defender lost his place after being sent off against England in November 2024. Everton's Jake O'Brien remains an option at both right back and centre half. Patrick Finn (21), who was born and raised in Spain and whose father is from Mayo, has some developing to do at French club Reims before Hallgrímsson will cap him. Arguably, 22-year-old Lawal has a higher ceiling. Regardless, Jason Knight and the newly capped Killian Phillips are set to feature in central midfield, with Philips expected to make way for Josh Cullen come September. Ireland's Kasey McAteer in action against Senegal last Friday. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/INpho Kasey McAteer's goalscoring performance against Senegal should keep him attacking off the right, a position that the injured Chiedozie Ogbene and the available Festy Ebosele are also pushing to fill. On the left, Robbie Brady remains vital to the cause, taking most of the frees-kicks and switching from fullback to winger when Ireland have possession. Under Hallgrímsson, the formation appears set as 4-4-1-1 in defence and 3-4-2-1 in attack. The Icelander's preferred system suggests another run for Will Smallbone and Evan Ferguson, playing in behind Troy Parrott, who has recovered from a bug, with Adam Idah returning to the bench. Finn Azaz's creativity in the March victories over Bulgaria suggests his inclusion against Hungary. Azaz, like Cullen, has been given a break this summer. 'Everything we are doing is preparation for [the qualifiers], that is going to come around quickly,' said Hallgrímsson. The debate about whether to play two attacking midfielders behind Ferguson or Idah, or reward Parrott's best ever club season after he scored 20 goals for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, will run beyond September. Hallgrímsson has expressed concerns about the level of opposition Scales and Idah face in the Scottish Premiership, mainly because Celtic dominate possession in most games, although he commended Idah's 'defensive' work against Senegal. 'They are different kinds of strikers, good hold-up players, good link-in players, going in behind, it depends on what game we are going to play,' he said. 'The strikers will probably fit the game but it's really good to have healthy competition up front. 'That's one of the reasons we did this camp, and left out some key players [Cullen and Azaz], to have new faces, to give them a chance to show what they can do and to increase the depth in the squad.' Ireland's Bosun Lawal during Monday's squad session. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho In a rare turn of events, an injury update from the Ireland camp could impact Friday's Dublin derby between Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park. Concerns over Rovers defender Josh Honohan and Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Taylor prompted Hallgrímsson to add Lawal to the squad for Tuesday's friendly. 'We were lucky that [Lawal] was in Dublin when we had these two injury scares and the next morning he was [at training in Abbotstown]. That shows his dedication, just to say 'yes' and come.' Honohan needed a scan over the weekend before declaring himself fit for training on Monday. There is added value to this fixture, coming four days after the Senegal game in Dublin, as the schedule is similar to Ireland's quick turnaround after the Hungary match, when they'll travel to Yerevan to face Armenia on September 9th. And remember, under Stephen Kenny in June 2022, Ireland lost a Nations League tie in Armenia. 'Luxembourg have had the same coach [Luc Holtz] for a long time, really consistent in team selection, so it's more like playing a club team,' Hallgrímsson added. 'I wouldn't look at it as a shock to the nation if we would not get a good result here. It's that good a team that a win here would be really good for us at this stage. I hope nobody is taking them lightly.' Holtz is dealing with a sustained controversy around the continued selection of striker Gerson Rodrigues, who is serving an 18-month suspended sentence for domestic violence. The Luxembourg manager previously stumbled into a war of words with Kenny – after the 3-0 Ireland win in 2021 – when he repeatedly described the Irish style as 'British'. IRELAND (v Luxembourg, possible): Kelleher; Doherty, Collins, Scales; McAteer, Knight, Phillips, Brady; Smallbone, Ferguson; Parrott.
