RIRRA position and why for bills being heard April 24 2018
Here is a list of bills being heard on Tuesday April 24, 2018, our position on these bills and why we have the position.
House Bill H-7162 SUPPORT
Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Filippi, Craven, Keable, and Lima
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL - GUN CRIMES REPORT
Summary: This act would direct the attorney general to report annually to the general assembly on the incidence and disposition of crimes involving guns.
WHY
This will provide data regarding how many crimes involving guns has the gun charges dropped. It will show if the existing gun laws are being used in the prosecution of criminals.
House Bill H-7112 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Perez, and Ucci
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS
Summary: This act would allow 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.
WHY
While the concept is good, it is poorly written and will not provide the reciprocity that is desired.
House Bill H-7588 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Canario, McLaughlin, Azzinaro, Edwards, and Johnston
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would define imitation firearm and provide that it is unlawful for any person to change, alter, remove, or obliterate any coloration or markings that are required by an applicable state or federal law or regulation for any imitation firearm in any way that makes the imitation firearm look to be an operable firearm. Violation of this section would be punishable as a misdemeanor. This act would also provide that it is unlawful to alter or insert any other mark of identification on a firearm. Brightly colored plugs inserted into the barrel of a firearm would be included as a "mark of identification."
WHY
There is no allowances for accidental and wear and tear due to use over time. We know kids are tough on toys and they coloring can wear off with heavy use. It also makes it illegal to use the internationally accept practice of inserting a brightly colored plastic object to indicate the firearm is empty.
House Bill H-7591 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Ajello, Fogarty, Knight, and Hearn
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS - SAFE SCHOOLS ACT
Summary: This act would provide 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.
WHY
This could put an unduly financial burden on a city or town. It prevents alternate means for a town to provide security. Law abiding citizens who go through a lengthy process to obtain a conceal carry permit have not attacked schools. Criminals by definition are violating the law and a law to stop them from entering school grounds will not stop them.
House Bill H-7597 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Maldonado, Tobon, and Cunha
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
Summary: This act would make 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. The act would also provide an enhanced penalty to those who unlawfully sold, transferred, gave, conveyed, or caused to be sold, transferred, given or conveyed to any person under eighteen (18) years of age who used that firearm in a crime of violence
WHY
This will prevent law abiding citizens from certain transportation of rifles and/or shotguns that is currently legal. This includes providing instructions to others, transporting to a dealer for sale or repair, or transporting to a gunsmith for improvement and/or repairs.
House Bill H-7598 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Maldonado, Cunha, and Tobon
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
Summary: This act would criminalize 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.
WHY
This is a poor rewrite of the current law. There are activities that a minor, someone under 18, can do now, but would no longer be allowed to do, such as competitive target shooting.
House Bill H-7643 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Johnston, and Canario
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would provide 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 under federal or state law.
WHY
This is already a federal law and there is no need to have a duplicate state law.
House Bill H-7644 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Regunberg, Blazejewski, Johnston, and Maldonado
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would provide that applicants for a license or permit to carry a firearm under §§ 11-47-11 and 11-47-18 must undergo a national criminal records check, which shall include fingerprints submitted to the federal bureau of investigation (FBI).
WHY
The applicant would be responsible for cost for fingerprinting with nothing to limit what is charged for fingerprinting.
House Bill H-7645 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Regunberg, Knight, Donovan, Ranglin-Vassell, and Kazarian
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would criminalize the manufacture, import, possession, purchase, sale or transfer of any ammunition feeding device capable of accepting more than ten (10) rounds, known as high capacity magazines. This act would make exceptions for law enforcement and the United States armed forces.
WHY
There are lots of target shooting done using firearms and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. There are many models of handguns that people use for target shooting that has a standard magazine capacity greater than 10 rounds.
House Bill H-7714 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, Shekarchi, Diaz, McLaughlin, and Ruggiero
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would raise the legal age to purchase a rifle or shotgun from eighteen (18) years of age to twenty-one (21) years of age, prohibit the sale of firearms to anyone under the age of twenty-one (21) and raise the age for minors with permits for sporting purposes and training to the age of twenty-one (21).
WHY
An adult 18 to 21 should be allowed to own rifles and shotguns. They are used for hunting, target shooting. This will not stop someone from under 21 from illegally obtaining a firearm for a crime.
House Bill H-7761 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Ranglin-Vassell, Fogarty, Knight, and Kazarian
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would raise the legal age to purchase or possess a rifle or shotgun from eighteen (18) years of age to twenty-one (21) years of age. The act would also "grandfather" lawful current ownership by persons under twenty-one (21) years of age, and would make an exemption for police and military, and lawful supervised use to include hunting.
WHY
An adult 18 to 21 should be allowed to own rifles and shotguns. They are used for hunting, target shooting. This will not stop someone from under 21 from illegally obtaining a firearm for a crime.
House Bill H-7762 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Ranglin-Vassell, Tanzi, Regunberg, Lombardi, and Slater
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act repeals the statute providing state preemption of laws pertaining to the ownership, possession, transportation, and sale of firearms and ammunitions.
WHY
This would allow each town, city, and possibly neighborhood to create their own laws regarding firearms. Firearm laws should be consistent across all cities and towns to the point that they are today.
House Bill H-7766 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Knight, Ajello, Tanzi, Blazejewski, and Diaz
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would create the "Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2018" which would restrict the possession and sale of semiautomatic assault weapons, limit ammunition magazines to ten (10) or less rounds, and would make provisions for "grandfathered" ownership of semiautomatic assault weapons. The act would also "grandfather" current ownership of magazines, and would make exceptions for law enforcement.
WHY
The appearance of a firearms should not be the determining factor. Just because a firearm is popular it should not be banned. Firearm design changes over time and what was popular and widely used 50 years ago is not what is popular and widely used today. Also depending on a person’s interpretation a far more reaching view can be used to make existing and future firearms illegal.
House Bill H-7854 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representative Robert D. Phillips
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
Summary: This act would establish a program for the training and assignment of school resource officers to middle and high schools.
WHY
This could put an unduly financial burden on a city or town. It prevents alternate means for a town to provide security. Law abiding citizens who go through a lengthy process to obtain a conceal carry permit have not attacked schools. Criminals by definition are violating the law and a law to stop them from entering school grounds will not stop them.
House Bill H-7863 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representative James N. McLaughlin
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would raise the legal age to purchase or possess a rifle, assault rifle or shotgun from eighteen (18) years of age to twenty-one (21) years of age. The act would also "grandfather" lawful current ownership by persons under twenty-one (21) years of age, and would make an exemption for police and military.
WHY
An adult 18 to 21 should be allowed to own rifles and shotguns. They are used for hunting, target shooting. This will not stop someone from under 21 from illegally obtaining a firearm for a crime.
House Bill H-7889 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Blazejewski, and McEntee
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- DOMESTIC ASSAULT
Summary: This act would clarify the procedures for seeking a protective order from either the district court or family court and the requirements of the surrender of any firearms when a complaint for protection from abuse is granted. It would also repeal the outdated family court form for complaints for protection from abuse.
WHY
This violates due process and does not allow a person to defend themselves before having firearms taken. There is no control over inventory, storage of firearms taken from a person.
House Bill H-7957 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Ranglin-Vassell, Donovan, Amore, Serpa, and Tanzi
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would prohibit schools from offering any incentives to teachers who are licensed to carry a weapon.
WHY
This prevents a town from determining how best to provide safety in the school. There are places in the US and other countries where this has been accepted and found effective.
House Bill H-8024 OPPPOSE
Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Maldonado, Tanzi, and McKiernan
Entitled: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – WEAPONS
Summary: This act would increase the lawful age to purchase a rifle or shotgun to from eighteen (18) years of age to twenty one (21) years of age. The act would also require a person to complete a basic rifle/shotgun safety course before they can legally purchase a rifle/shotgun.
WHY
An adult 18 to 21 should be allowed to own rifles and shotguns. They are used for hunting, target shooting. This will not stop someone from under 21 from illegally obtaining a firearm for a crime.
