Latest news with #RhodeIslandAssaultWeaponsBanActof2025
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gun bills draw a crowd to R.I. State House for seven and a half hours of testimony
Advocates from opposite sides of the gun debate sign up to testify on the proposed assault weapons ban during a May 14, 2025, Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the Rhode Island State House. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Dozens of Second Amendment and gun control advocates alike filled the Rhode Island State House rotunda, floors and halls Wednesday, many waiting hours to testify on a bill that would ban a wide array of semiautomatic weapons statewide. It was also a long day for the Senate Committee on Judiciary, which heard seven and a half hours of testimony on 15 gun bills. But nearly every speaker addressed bill S0359 — also known as the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 — sponsored by Middletown Democratic Sen. Lou DiPalma. Unlike most hearings, Senate staff allowed only a small number of people into Room 313 at a time, and only one row of chairs for people testifying. A Capitol police officer, senate staff, and a stanchion were stationed outside the door to control the flow of people entering the room. As the hearing rolled into its seventh hour, Sen. Mark McKenney, a Warwick Democrat, subbed in for Committee Chair Sen. Matthew LaMountain, who had stepped out of the room momentarily. LaMountain and McKenney are listed as co-sponsors on the bill text. Yellow is color of the day as gun rights advocates turn out to oppose assault weapons ban bill 'It sure would make life easier for us if we could simply make policy based on the T-shirt colors,' McKenney joked after one yellow-shirted Second Amendment supporter pointed out yellow shirts outnumbered the red and orange shirts of gun control advocates as they did in years past. DiPalma's bill, plus companion House submission by Barrington Democratic Rep. Jason Knight, is one of two avenues Gov. Dan McKee is testing this year in an attempt to ban the sale and manufacture of firearms with military-style features. The bills' interpretation includes semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns equipped with accessories such as pistol grips, folding stocks, or threaded barrels. The bills would build on prior reforms passed during McKee's tenure, like a magazine cap, an age 21-and-over carrying limit, and a ban on open carry of shotguns and large rifles — successful efforts DiPalma mentioned in his testimony to fellow senators. 'Some will say this is not going to do everything. You're absolutely correct. This is not going to do everything,' DiPalma said. 'It's yet another building block in the framework of gun safety and gun violence. The push to forbid select semiautomatic weapons is old hat at the State House, but this year things have changed following the April 21 death of former Senate President Dominick Ruggerio — a longtime skeptic of firearm bans who had expressed a possible change of heart in his final months. Now, with Senate leadership refreshed, the fate of the bill depends upon the Senate Committee on Judiciary. DiPalma said 24 senators have signed on to support his bill, or 64% of the 38-member body, now down one vote to 37 with Ruggerio's District 4 seat vacant. Another bill co-sponsor is Senate President Valarie Lawson, attended the hearing at various points. 'President Lawson personally supports an assault weapons ban,' spokesperson Greg Paré said over email Wednesday. 'She believes strongly in the committee review process and will let it play out.' Judiciary has 10 members. Committee members Sen. Andrew Dimitri, a freshman Democrat from Johnston, newly elected Sen. Todd Patalano, a Cranston Democrat, and Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, a Coventry Democrat, voiced their opposition to the bill. Republican Sen. Thomas Paolino was mostly quiet during the hearing but has voted against similar legislation in the past. 'I think it's drawn confusion because we're referring to them all as assault weapons, when, in reality, this bill does not really distinguish actual, quote/unquote, assault weapons from handguns and certain kinds of shotguns,' Dimitri, a recreational bird hunter, said during the hearing. Raptakis wondered if a study commission should be formed instead. 'I don't know what you would study beyond what's already been studied. It's either we agree or we don't it's the right time to do it,' DiPalma replied, gesturing with his hands. Raptakis returned to the proposal of a study commission around 9:25 pm, right before the last five testimonies took the stand. 'Thank you,' a weary-sounding LaMountain replied after Raptakis shared the idea. Other senators who sat in on the hearing were Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, who is a licensed gun dealer; Majority Whip David Tikoian, a former North Providence police chief who also served 23 years on the Rhode Island State Police; and the Republican leadership, Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz of North Providence and Minority Whip Gordon Rogers of Foster. Senate Republicans and a handful of Democrats took to the State Library an hour before the hearing to denounce the bill. The Democrats in attendance included Ciccone and Tikoian, who stood in the audience, as did Rep. Arthur Corvese of North Providence. Reps. Stephen Casey of Woonsocket, and Deborah Fellela of Johnston stood in the lineup alongside de la Cruz, Rogers, Patalano and gun rights advocates. 'If enacted, this ban would ban most weapons in common use here in Rhode Island, it would be a blatant violation of the United States Constitution as well as the Rhode Island constitution,' de le Cruz said. Rogers blasted the bill's reliance on 'military-style' features to define an assault weapon, and held up a forward folding grip for the crowd. 'Same gun, same round, same ammunition,' Rogers said. 'but when you put a grip on it forward as an accessory, it becomes an assault weapon. Does that make it any more dangerous? No. Do we go around banning cars that have chrome rims and spoilers on because they look dangerous? No, we don't.' De la Cruz and Rogers continued those lines of argument during the hearing, with both critiquing the bill's language as vague and unreflective of mechanical reality — as well as DiPalma's understanding of kinetic energy. 'The gun has a firing pin that triggers the bullet — the ammunition — that is where the kinetic energy comes from, not the firearm,' Rogers told DiPalma. 'So we bring up the kinetic energy and what it does. And I think you were very theatrical last year, or the year before, when that was brought forward.' Rogers framed Rhode Island's proposed ban as a political outlier rather than a national standard. Only nine states have such bans, he said. 'That tells me 41 states haven't,' he added. An hour-long expert panel brought sharply divided testimony from both sides, from constitutional precedent for bans to historical efforts to forbid sawed off shotguns and bowie knives. If enacted, this ban would ban most weapons in common use here in Rhode Island, it would be a blatant violation of the United States Constitution as well as the Rhode Island constitution. – Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican Jake McGuigan, senior director of government relations for the National Shooting Sports Foundation and a former adviser to Gov. Donald Carcieri, cited homicide data as a reason the bill would be narrowly focused and not accomplish much. 'If we look over the past 13 years, 0.6% — that's 0.6%, not even one percent — of all homicides in Rhode Island are attributed to rifles that will be banned by this bill,' McGuigan said. 'Why do we need a common-sense approach to address 0.6%?…That's not a problem, that's a rounding error.' Greg Lickenbrock, a former gun magazine editor and firearms analyst with Everytown for Gun Safety, pushed back. 'Those are lives, not rounding errors,' Lickenbrock said. After experts departed, a wider range of views emerged. Andrew Wright of Pawtucket criticized the measure as racially and socially exclusionary. Gun control 'always just enforces a white supremacist status quo,' he said. 'Black and brown people, Asian people, queer and trans people are buying guns more now than they were before. They're the people who are going to be most affected by their inability to buy guns that match the weapons already in the hands of the people who want to do them harm.' As the hearing stretched into the evening, more gun control advocates came forward, including Emily Howe a mother of three who described the fear she feels daily for her two kids still in school. 'I've never allowed my kids to wear light-up shoes because I'm really afraid that one day that will be the end of them,' she said. 'If there's a gunman, my kids will be quiet — but the light-up shoes would be one to set them off and let them know where they're hiding.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RI Senate to discuss several gun-related bills
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The debate over gun rights in Rhode Island is expected to take center stage at the State House on Wednesday. While the Rhode Island Senate hears testimony on a series of firearm-related bills, a 2nd Amendment rally is expected to take place outside. In March, the House Judiciary Committee held a nearly eight-hour hearing where dozens gathered to voice opinions on proposed gun legislation. Some called for stricter gun laws while others argued the measures would violate 2nd Amendment rights. ALSO READ: RI Senate advances bill for statewide cell phone ban in public schools One of the most controversial bills up for debate is the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025. Currently, fully automatic weapons like machine guns are already illegal in the state. The bill would prohibit the purchasing, selling, or manufacturing of various semiautomatic weapons. Another bill, sponsored by Sen. Gordon Rogers, looks to redefine who qualifies as a suitable person to carry a gun. He is also backing legislation that would allow Rhode Islanders over 21 to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. A separate proposal seeks harsher penalties and mandatory prison time for those caught with a stolen gun or caught using one in a violent crime. Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz and advocates from the Rhode Island 2nd Amendment Coalition are running the rally at 1 p.m. to encourage others to testify against the assault weapons ban. The hearing begins at 2 p.m. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gun control advocates hold rally to push for stricter laws in RI
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — At a rally pushing for stricter gun laws at the Rhode Island State House on Tuesday, Diana Garlington shared the story of her daughter, Essence Christal. Christal was 21 years old when she was killed in a drive-by shooting. 'Just six days ago, we should have celebrated her 35th birthday,' Garlington said while standing at the podium. Christal was killed back in 2011, but the pain persists for her mother. 'There are no words to truly express the emptiness, the grief, the loss of her presence,' Garlington explained. BACKGROUND: RI lawmakers hear testimony on 'assault weapons ban' Members of Moms Demand Action, including Garlington, joined fellow advocates, volunteers and lawmakers at the rally to push for passage of the 'Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025.' Garlington noted that she is a gun owner herself, but still supports the proposed legislation. 'Weapons like the assault rifle used in the shooting that took my daughter's life aren't just tools,' Garlington said. 'They are weapons engineered to kill efficiently and discriminately.' Moms Demand Action's executive director, Angela Ferrell-Zabala, was also at the State House for the rally. 'We know that the majority of Rhode Islanders agree with this,' Ferrell-Zabala said of the legislation. 'These are weapons of war that were designed to kill as many people as quickly as possible … They do not belong in our communities.' What guns would be banned by the 'Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025'? Brenda Jacob with the R.I. Revolver and Rifle Association has previously advocated on behalf of local pro-gun groups. 'We're one of the safest states in the United States, and I think a good part of that is that we have a lot of gun laws,' Jacob told 12 News on Tuesday. While Jacob supports some of Rhode Island's gun laws, she thinks the proposed legislation is too restrictive and unnecessary. 'The assault weapons ban is … almost all of your common firearms,' she said. Jacob thinks there are other things advocates could be pushing for to crack down on gun violence. 'If you keep taking away law-abiding citizens' right to defend themselves, you are actually making us more sitting targets,' Jacob explained. 'Common sense would be, 'Hey, let's look at the laws we already have on the books. Are they being enforced?'' Ferrell-Zabala holds a different viewpoint. 'It's not taking a hunting rifle or a pistol or those kinds of things away,' she said of the proposed legislation. Ferrell-Zabala thinks that if the bills become law, they will prevent future tragedies. 'We shouldn't be waiting to respond to something,' she said. 'We should be proactively preventing a tragedy from happening.' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What guns are included in Gov. McKee's ‘assault weapons ban'?
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee hopes to pass what legislators are calling an assault weapons ban as part of the state's budget for the 2026 fiscal year. But what does the current bill consider an 'assault weapon'? The following chart is based on H5436, which is titled 'Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025.' Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 Revolving cylinder Semiautomatic with fixed magazine capacity exceeding 10 rounds Semiautomatic with fixed magazine capacity exceeding 10 rounds Semiautomatic and can accept belt ammunition feeding device Semiautomatic with any of: Semiautomatic with ability to accept a detachable magazine and any of: Semiautomatic with ability to accept a detachable magazine and any of: Any firearm modified to be operable as defined in this section • Fixed magazine capacity exceeding 8 rounds • Ability to accept a detachable magazine • Folding or telescopic stock • Grenade launcher • Adjustable stock • Bayonet mount • Grenade launcher • Shroud that allows bearer to hold firearm with non-trigger hand (not a slide that encloses the barrel) • Pistol grip or thumbhole stock • Flash suppressor or ability to accept a flash suppressor • Capacity to accept an ammunition magazine at a location outside the grip • Threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer • Shroud that allows bearer to hold firearm with non-trigger hand (not a slide that encloses the barrel) • Buffer tube, arm brace, or other part that allows or facilitates firing from the shoulder • Weight of 50 oz. or more when unloaded Combination of parts that may be readily assembled to create a firearm defined in this section NOT a semiautomatic rifle with an attached tubular device and only .22-caliber rimfire ammunition Source: Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 'Let's finally get this done': McKee rallies support for assault weapons ban Fully automatic weapons — machine guns — are already illegal to manufacture, sell, purchase, or own in Rhode Island. As for penalties, the Assault Weapons Ban Act would punish anyone who attempts, without authorization, to manufacture, sell, own, or possess one of the firearms designated as an 'assault weapon' with up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000, along with forfeiture of the weapon. Gun owners who currently possess an 'assault weapon' as defined above will not face charges as long as they do one of the following: Register the firearm with local police Render the weapon permanently inoperable Surrender the gun to law enforcement Transfer or sell the gun to a federally licensed firearms dealer For more detailed information, view the text of the bill here Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
