Sen. McKenney supported legislation sponsored by Sen. Lauria that requires the safe storage of firearms and imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations of the law. The proposed legislation also adds rifles and shotguns to the types of firearms requiring a trigger lock to be included with purchase. 

Sen. McKenney supported proposed legislation that would ban the possession, sale, and transfer of assult weapons. Possession of assualt weapons owned on the effective date of the act would be "grandfathered". Violations of the law would be punishable by a fine or imprisonment. The legislation is currently being held in committee for further study. 

Sen. McKenney cosponsored legislation aimed at prohibiting the operation of privately run, for profit correctional or detention facilities in Rhode Island. The criminal justice process should be aimed at rehabilitation, and reintegration under the guidance of the state rather than private entities operating as moneymaking endeavors. 

Sen. McKenney supported the passage of legislation whiched imposed a ban on 3D printed and ghost guns. Bill sponor Sen. Coyne (D-32) stated that “Ghost guns, 3-D printed guns and undetectable plastic guns can easily facilitate criminal activity because they totally bypass the safeguards that protect the public. Our state laws should be very clear that possessing, creating or selling them is a criminal act, and we should be doing everything we can to keep these dangerous weapons from proliferating here.”