Rhode Island: Huge Gun Owner Rally Rounds Out Week of Gun Bill Activity in Providence

[Charlie T Waite]

This week’s flurry of activity on gun bills at the Statehouse is proof positive that progressive gun grabbers have made gun control a top priority this legislative session.  We’re only a few weeks into the 2020 session, and it is evident that Gov. Gina Raimondo and her anti-gun legislative allies intend to keep their promise to strip gun owners of their rights.

The Senate Judiciary Committee met Tuesday afternoon and took testimony on S.2004A.  This legislation bans 3D printed guns and "ghost guns."   This legislation mistakenly uses the terms "undetectable" and "untraceable" resulting in confusing and problematic language.  Testimony during the hearing failed to show that either of these types of firearms were popular among criminals in Rhode Island, while plenty of evidence highlighted potential pitfalls for law-abiding gun owners.  On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the House version of the bill, H.7102.  

Two other bills were heard this week as well, H.7101 and H.7103.  Although H.7101 doesn’t specifically address firearms, the gun community raised some concerns with how confidential and personal information is protected in these government databases.  H.7103 creates more unnecessary burdens by requiring sellers of firearms to notify law enforcement of the sale in the jurisdiction where the purchaser resides.  

On a positive note, this week’s activities were capped off by a massive gun owner rally in the Capitol rotunda.  Thousands of Rhode Island NRA members and gun owners attended, filling the building to capacity.   

And the large crowd had plenty of reason to voice their concerns as two more anti-gun bills were introduced in the Senate this week.  S.2130 by Sen. Gayle Goldin bans magazines holding more than 10 rounds, and S.2131 by Sen. Joshua Miller bans popular, commonly owned semi-automatic rifles. 

Thank you to all those that came out to support the Second Amendment and every law-abiding citizens' right to self-defense!