Here is a list of bills being heard on Tuesday March 8, 2018, our position on these bills and why we have the position.
House Bill No. 7075 OPPOSE
BY Craven, McEntee, Knight, Carson, and Shekarchi
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
SUMMARY This act would make possession or use of a semi-automatic weapon rapid fire devices including bump stocks, binary trigger, or trigger cranks punishable by up to ten (10) years imprisonment and/or a ten thousand dollars ($10,000) fine.
WHY
1. Requires immediate surrender upon passage of this bill of any "Bump Stock", "Binary Trigger" or "Trigger Crank". Failure to do so is a felony.
2. Makes it is illegal for owners to sell to lawful outlets. This is confiscation of private property without compensation.
3. Excludes replacement triggers or trigger components (i.e. springs) which are of improved quality or lighter weight. This prepares a change in a subsequent year to include instead of exclude replacement triggers or trigger components.
House Bill No. 7688 OPPOSE
BY Canario, Mattiello, Costantino, Marshall, and Fellela
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS -- CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
SUMMARY This act would provide the superior courts with authority to issue "extreme risk protection orders" when the court finds the subject of the order is an imminent danger to cause personal injury to self or others by having access to a firearm. The act would also provide that a person subject to an extreme risk protection order surrender all firearms and carry permits while subject to such an order.
WHY
1. There is no procedure for transportation,and storage of confiscated firearms.
2. No evidence is required to show the person is an immediate threat to themselves or others.
3. Burden of proof is on the accused that they are not a threat.
4. It opens the door to use the order for broad range to search accused property.
House Bill No. 7763 OPPOSE
BY Ranglin-Vassell, Williams, Tanzi, McEntee, and Knight
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS -- CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
SUMMARY This act would provide the district courts with authority to issue "extreme risk protection orders" when the court finds the subject of the order is an imminent danger to cause personal injury to self or others by having access to a firearm. The act would also provide that a person subject to an extreme risk protection order surrender all firearms and carry permits while subject to such an order.
WHY
1. There is no procedure for transportation,and storage of confiscated firearms.
2. No evidence is required to show the person is an immediate threat to themselves or others.
3. Burden of proof is on the accused that they are not a threat.
4. It opens the door to use the order for broad range to search accused property.
Senate Bill No. 2134 Support
BY Archambault, Lynch Prata, McCaffrey, Lombardi, and Lombardo
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF THE 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
1. This will provide data on crimes committed with weapons and weapon charges were dropped.
Senate Bill No. 2148 Support
BY Ciccone, and Lombardi
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
1. This will provide reciprocity with states that provide reciprocity to RI.
Senate Bill No. 2271 OPPOSE
BY Sheehan, Cote, Calkin, Metts, and Quezada
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
SUMMARY This act would make possession or use of a semi-automatic weapon rapid fire devices including bump stocks, binary triggers or trigger cranks punishable by up to ten (10) years imprisonment and/or a ten thousand dollars ($10,000) fine.
WHY
1. Requires immediate surrender upon passage of this bill of any "Bump Stock", "Binary Trigger" or "Trigger Crank". Failure to do so is a felony.
2. Makes it is illegal for owners to sell to lawful outlets. This is confiscation of private property without compensation.
3. Excludes replacement triggers or trigger components (i.e. springs) which are of improved quality or lighter weight. This prepares a change in a subsequent year to include instead of exclude replacement triggers or trigger components.
Senate Bill No. 2274 OPPOSE
BY Miller, Goodwin, Metts, Calkin, and Euer
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
1. Too vague on specifics.
2. Prevents instruction and training such as hunter education, home safety, etc where rifles and shotguns are used.
Senate Bill No. 2276 Support
BY Metts, and Coyne
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
1. Allows adults 18 and older to provide training and instruction to minors (individuals under 18).
2. Eliminates a minor (individual under 18) from having to obtain a permit to participate in marksman training.
Senate Bill No. 2289 OPPOSE
BY Metts, Goldin, Quezada, Crowley, and Calkin
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
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
1. Individuals with CCW (Concealed Carry) permits go through extensive checks in order to obtain these permits and have never been involved with shooting on school grounds.
Senate Bill No. 2292 OPPOSE
BY Seveney, Coyne, DiPalma, Pearson, and Conley
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
SUMMARY This act would make possession or use of a semi-automatic weapon rapid fire devices including bump stocks, binary triggers or trigger cranks punishable by up to ten (10) years imprisonment and/or a ten thousand dollars ($10,000) fine.
WHY
1. Requires immediate surrender upon passage of this bill of any "Bump Stock", "Binary Trigger" or "Trigger Crank". Failure to do so is a felony.
2. Makes it is illegal for owners to sell to lawful outlets. This is confiscation of private property without compensation.
3. Excludes replacement triggers or trigger components (i.e. springs) which are of improved quality or lighter weight. This prepares a change in a subsequent year to include instead of exclude replacement triggers or trigger components.
Senate Bill No. 2319 OPPOSE
BY Goldin, Coyne, Euer, Miller, and Goodwin
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.
WHY
1. No grandfathered provision. Individuals already own these magazines and they are not used for unlawful purposes.
2. Licensed dealer will not purchase if they cannot turn around and sell them. This amounts to turning over to law enforcement for destruction without compensation.
Senate Bill No. 2455 OPPOSE
BY Coyne, Seveney, Conley, DiPalma, and Eue
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
SUMMARY This act would limit the issuance of pistol and revolver carry permits to the office of the attorney general.
WHY
1. The Attorney General is not required to issue any carry permit. A person who requires a carry permit for their job can be denied by the Attorney General office when there is no reason to deny.
2. Local law enforcement shall issue unless there is a justifiable reason to deny the applicant to possess a carry permit.
Senate Bill No. 2456 OPPOSE
BY Goldin, Calkin, Coyne, Miller, and Euer
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
1. The cost of the FBI check and the FBI fingerprints are the responsibility of the applicant. There is no cost control and fees could be set so high that it prohibits the applicant from filing due to financial considerations.
Senate Bill No. 2492 OPPOSE
BY Goodwin, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Euer, and DiPalma
ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS -- CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
SUMMARY This act would provide the superior courts with authority to issue "extreme risk protection orders" when the court finds the subject of the order is an imminent danger to cause personal injury to self or others by having access to a firearm. The act would also provide that a person subject to an extreme risk protection order surrender all firearms and carry permits while subject to such an order.
WHY
1. There is no procedure for transportation,and storage of confiscated firearms.
2. No evidence is required to show the person is an immediate threat to themselves or others.
3. Burden of proof is on the accused that they are not a threat.
4. It opens the door to use the order for broad range to search accused property.
Senate Bill No. 2493 OPPOSE
BY Miller, Goodwin, Lynch Prata, Coyne, and Conley
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
1. The US Government coordinated training and competitive matches using many of the firearms listed as a banned assault weapon.
2. A person with a grandfather assault weapon cannot replace the weapon when it wears out due to use.
3. A person who legally owns assault weapon before the ban but lives out of state cannot move into the state and retain possession of the assault weapon.
4. This is banning popular firearms and does nothing to address the underlying cause why these weapons are used in acts of crime.
5. Criminals already violate the law and this will not stop them from obtaining firearms. It punishes the law abiding citizen.
Senate Bill No. 2606 Support
BY Goodwin
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
1. Imitation firearms should not be alter to look like a real firearm.
Senate Bill No. 2615 OPPOSE
BY Miller, Goodwin, Lynch Prata, Conley, and Satchell
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
1. There is a federal law that already makes this action illegal. There is no need for a duplicate state law.
