Updated Legislation to Watch: Click here
4-19-2018ALERT!!! House Judiciary Hearing on 4-24-2018!!
The following bills will be heard and include bans on some of the most popular semi automatic firearms as well as magazine restrictions! Please CALL your representatives/senators and ask them to oppose more gun control bills. Also, call Speaker Mattiello (401-222-2466) and Senate President Ruggerio (401-222-6655) and ask them to oppose these bills, especially if you are in their deistrict and let them know you are a constituent. The gun control folks are going door to door on Mattiello's district spreading false information on these bills and asking people to sign a letter that will be delivered to the Speaker! Please contact your legislator and ask them to oppose these bills (see link above). The legislators have claimed the form letters are not as effective as personal emails so we are not doing the form letter this time, but you can send the House Judiciary committe an email here. You can also use the form below, but we are not providing pre-written letters this time since personal letters are more effective.House Bill No. 7075 House Bill No. 7075 BY Craven, McEntee, Knight, Carson, Shekarchi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Makes possession or use of a semi-automatic weapon rapid fire device to include bump stock, binary trigger or trigger crank punishable by up to ten (10) years imprisonment and/or a ten thousand dollars ($10,000) fine.) This bill specifically prohibits bump fire stock, binary triggers, and trigger cranks. It also prohibits "rapid fire devices" which can include many commonly available parts such springs and bolt carrier groups that are replaced to enhance reliability of a firearm (triggers are exempt in the bill). Violations of this statute can result is a prison term of 1-10 years and/or a $10,000 fine. If this bill passes it will take effect immediately and there is no amnesty, grandfathering, or compensation of existing devices. Law enforcement would be exempt of this law.
House Bill No. 7112 House Bill No. 7112 BY Perez, Lancia, Ucci ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS (Allows those persons with concealed carry permits issued by other states to carry upon their person weapons in Rhode Island provided that the issuing state recognizes and gives reciprocity to RI permit holders.)
House Bill No. 7162 House Bill No. 7162 BY Casey, Filippi, Craven, Keable, Lima ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL - GUN CRIMES REPORT (Directs the attorney general to report annually to the general assembly on the incidence and disposition of crimes involving guns.) This is a good bill that will direct the Attorney General to generate a report on the incidence and disposition of the cases. For years we have heard the Attorney General argue for stricter laws, but the research RIFOL has done shows that in many cases the gun charges are dropped so you have to ask yourself what is the point of stricter gun laws that will only affect law abiding citizens.
House Bill No. 7163 House Bill No. 7163 BY Lancia, Handy, Jacquard, McNamara ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Defines bump stock and trigger crank and makes possession of any firearm equipped with either device a felony punishable by up to ten (10) years imprisonment.) This bill is similar to H7075, but it specifically targets bump fire stocks and trigger cranks. However, it has a mandatory prison term of 1-10 years and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
House Bill No. 7170 House Bill No. 7170 BY Bennett, Marshall, Chippendale, Hull, Vella-Wilkinson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- HUNTING AND HUNTING SAFETY (Requires any person who sustains an injury to themselves or causes an injury to another while hunting or trapping to report the injury to the department of environmental management immediately.) Today only injuries causes by firearms wile hunting, or when trapping, must be reported to the DEM. This bill would change it so that all injuries would have to be reported to the DEM, regardless of the severity of the injury.
House Bill No. 7184 House Bill No. 7184 BY Vella-Wilkinson, McNamara, Nardolillo, Edwards, Ajello ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - SALE OF IVORY OR RHINOCEROS HORNS (Prohibits/establishes criminal penalties for the importing/selling/offering for sale/purchasing/bartering/possessing with intent to sell elephant ivory/rhinoceros horn with limited exceptions.) This bill will prohibit the sale, import, and possession of ivory and this bill could affect those who have ivory handgrips on your pistols/revolvers.
House Bill No. 7588 House Bill No. 7588 (Attorney General) BY Canario, McLaughlin, Azzinaro, Edwards, Johnston ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Defines imitation firearm and provide that it is unlawful for any person to change, alter, remove, or obliterate any coloration or markings in any way that makes the imitation firearm look to be an operable firearm. Violation is a misdemeanor.) This bill wil prohibit to alter ANY identification markings on a firearm even ifit is not a serial number. In other words, removing parts on a gun with the manufacturers logo or a factory barrel with an identification number would be illegal. It will also make it illegal to alter an imitation firearm to look like an operable firearm.
House Bill No. 7591 House Bill No. 7591 BY Kazarian, Ajello, Fogarty, Knight, Hearn ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS - SAFE SCHOOLS ACT (Provides that only peace officers and persons approved by the school authorities for the purposes of educational instruction may carry firearms or other weapons on school grounds.) This will prohibit CCW permit holders from carrying a firearm on school property and could leave people vulnerable at a very predictable time and place. The antis are pushing hard for this bill and we need to stop it.
House Bill No. 7597 House Bill No. 7597 (Attorney General) BY Diaz, Slater, Maldonado, Tobon, Cunha ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Makes it unlawful for any person to carry a rifle or shotgun in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about their person whether visible or concealed subject to certain exceptions.) This bill will severely limit where a long gun can be carried in a vehicle and the exceptions are few (hunting and target shooting). It is even more restricted than for handguns for someone who has a CCW.
House Bill No. 7598 House Bill No. 7598 (Attorney General) BY Diaz, Slater, Maldonado, Cunha, Tobon ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Criminalizes possession of a firearm by a minor, except when the minor is engaged in certain activities and when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or qualified adult.) It will severely limit where minors engaged in otherwise lawful activity can possess a firearm. For example, there is no provision for a teenager to take their firearm to a friend's property to hunt or target shoot.
House Bill No. 7643 House Bill No. 7643 (Attorney General) BY Johnston, Canario ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Provides that no person shall knowingly purchase or otherwise obtain a firearm on behalf of or transfer to a person who the transferor knows or reasonably should know is prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm.) No person shall knowingly purchase or otherwise obtain a firearm on behalf of or transfer to a person who the transferor knows or reasonably should know is prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under federal or state law.
House Bill No. 7644 House Bill No. 7644 (Attorney General) BY Slater, Regunberg, Blazejewski, Johnston, Maldonado ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS (Provides that applicants for gun permits submit to national records check including fingerprinting by FBI.) This bill puts a financial burden of unknown costs on CCW permit applicants.
House Bill No. 7645 House Bill No. 7645 BY Regunberg, Knight, Donovan, Ranglin-Vassell, Kazarian ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS (Criminalizes the manufacture, import, possession, purchase, sale or transfer of any ammunition feeding device capable of accepting more than 10 rounds, known as high capacity magazines. Makes exceptions for law enforcement and the US armed forces.) This is a REALLY bad bill that will ban detachable magazines holding more than 10 rounds! There is no grandfathering or compensation for existing magazines either!
House Bill No. 7688 House Bill No. 7688 BY Canario, Mattiello, Costantino, Marshall, Fellela ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS -- CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Persons subject to extreme risk protection orders for being an imminent danger of causing personal injury shall surrender all firearms while subject to the order.) People who are a danger to themself and others should not have access to guns, but this bill is long and complicated and we are concerned about it being too far reaching and that it does not give enough due process.
House Bill No. 7714 House Bill No. 7714 BY Marshall, Shekarchi, Diaz, McLaughlin, Ruggiero ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Raises the legal age to purchase or sell a rifle or shotgun from 18 years of age to 21 years of age and restricts permits to minors for sporting or training purposes to age 21.) This bill will raise the legal age limit to 21 years to purchase and possess ANY firearm. You can serve and protect your country by joining the military at the age of 18, but you cannot buy a .22LR until you are 21.. We have yet to see any evidence where law abiding citizens under the age of 21 legally purchased a firearm to committ a crime.
House Bill No. 7761 House Bill No. 7761 BY Tanzi, Ranglin-Vassell, Fogarty, Knight, Kazarian ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS (Raises the age to purchase or possess a rifle or shotgun from 18 years of age to 21 years of age, "grandfathers" current ownership by persons under 21 years of age, and makes an exemption for police and military.) This bill is similar to H7714, but it also raises the minimum age to buy ammunition to 21 years old. In this bill there are exemptions to Law Enforcement.
House Bill No. 7762 House Bill No. 7762 BY Ranglin-Vassell, Tanzi, Regunberg, Lombardi, Slater ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS (Repeals the statute providing state preemption of laws pertaining to the ownership, possession, transportation, and sale of firearms and ammunitions.) This is a BAD bill that will remove the State pre-emption with regards to the regulation of firearms in RI. This means cities and towns could make it just as difficult and expensive to obtain firearms as in Chicago, NYC, and DC. Transporting firearms through the state will also be difficult since you need to know the regulations in every town. The Attorney General has opposed this bill in the past because it would be almost impossible to enforce and prosecute, but the sponsors keep introducing the bill.
House Bill No. 7763 House Bill No. 7763 BY Ranglin-Vassell, Williams, Tanzi, McEntee, Knight ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS -- CRIMINAL OFFENSES--WEAPONS (Establishes a procedure where a person who is determined to be an extreme risk to themselves or others will be required to surrender their firearm for a certain period.) People who are a danger to themself and others should not have access to guns, but this bill is long and complicated and we are concerned about it being too far reaching and that it does not give enough due process.
House Bill No. 7766 House Bill No. 7766 BY Knight, Ajello, Tanzi, Blazejewski, Diaz ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Restricts possession and sale of new assault weapons. Limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds or less. Grandfathers current possession/ownership.) ASSAULT WEAPON BAN!!! This bill will ban many-many popular semi automatic firearms based on name and cosmetic features. It even bans some semi automatic shotguns as well as the Beretta PX4 Storm ("regular pistol"). It also bans magazines capable to hold more than 10 rounds. There is a grandfather clause, but the owner is required to register the firearm ($25) with the Attorney General. We assume this is so they can be confiscated at a later time.. This bill needs to be stopped!
House Bill No. 7854 House Bill No. 7854 BY Phillips ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS (Establishes a program for the training and assignment of school resource officers to middle and high schools.)
House Bill No. 7862 House Bill No. 7862 BY McLaughlin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Raises the legal age to purchase or possess a rifle or shotgun from 18 to 21 years of age/ "grandfather" lawful current ownership by persons under 21 years of age/make an exemption for police and military.) This is very similar to H7761.
House Bill No. 7863 House Bill No. 7863 BY McLaughlin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Raises the legal age to purchase or possess a rifle, assault rifle or shotgun from 18 to 21 years of age/ "grandfather" lawful current ownership by persons under 21 years of age/make an exemption for police and military.) Similar to H7762.
House Bill No. 7889 House Bill No. 7889 (Judiciary) BY Tanzi, Blazejewski, McEntee ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- DOMESTIC ASSAULT (Clarifies the procedures for seeking a protective order from district or family court and the requirements of the surrender of any firearms. Repeals outdated family court form for complaints for protection from abuse.) This bill at first glance looks to "fix" some of the mistakes that was done in H5510 last year that even the Courts have complained about. It is a large and complicated bill and we will need to investigate this bill further to state our position.
House Bill No. 7957 House Bill No. 7957 BY Ranglin-Vassell, Donovan, Amore, Serpa, Tanzi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Prohibits schools from offering any incentives to teachers who are licensed to carry a weapon.)
House Bill No. 8024 (Attorney General) BY Diaz, Slater, Maldonado, Tanzi, McKiernan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Increases the lawful age to purchase a rifle/shotgun to from 18 years of age to 21 years of age. Also requires a person complete a basic rifle/shotgun safety course before they can legally purchase a rifle/shotgun.) This bill will require that you obtain a safety certificate (minimum 2 hour training) to purchase a rifle or shotgun. It will also raise the minimum age to purchase a rifle/shotgun from 18 to 21 years.
House Bill No. 8119 BY Lima, Costantino, Corvese, Casey, Bennett ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS (Permits the sale and use of stun guns by persons eighteen (18) years of age or older.) This bill will lift the ban on stun guns and regulate them instead.