UPDATED: Senate Approves Large Magazine Ban on Floor - Bypassing Own Committee
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Rhode Island Senate leadership bypassed their own committee and took up the House version of the bill to ban extended magazines on Tuesday.
This procedure circumvented the tie vote in committee and was allowed for consideration on the floor under amended Senate rules according to Senate Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence).
Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) moved the legislation that banned high-capacity magazines containing more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOnce the House bill came to the Senate floor, multiple amendments were unsuccessfully put forth by members of the Senate GOP -- as well as Democrats.
As Debated Raged On, Gun Rights Advocates Chant, "We Will Not Comply"
A vocal contingent of gun rights supporters tried to shout down members of the Senate during the debate.
"I'm not putting up with this all afternoon," said Goodwin, as the chamber attempted to conduct its business despite attempts by members of the gallery.
Amendments were offered by Republican Senators including Jessica da la Cruz (R-Dist. 23, North Smithfield, Glocester, Burrillville) and Gordon Rogers (R-Dist. 21, Foster, Coventry, Scituate, West Greenwich), and Democratic Senators Frank Ciccone (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence) and Stephen Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston).
"Is this something that makes us appease the public by saying we’re passing something?" questioned Ciccone, in opposition to the underlying magazine ban. "I agree."
"We change our laws when our laws our bad and no longer serving us," said Senator Meghan Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) on the floor, in support of the legislation. "It used to be legal to own other people. It used to be legal to employ our children. It is our duty to change our laws when they no longer serve us."
How Bill Came to Pass
The Senate version was defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier in the day be lieu of a 6-6 vote tie.
The parliamentary move by Senate leadership salvaged the legislation.
Senate leaders had already given up this year on passage of an assault rifle ban — the number one priority of gun safety advocates.
READ MORE ON THE FAILURE TO BAN ASSAULT RIFLES HERE
Senate Judiciary
The Senate Judiciary Committee earlier on Tuesday passed legislation to raise the age from 18 to 21 for the lawful sale of firearms or ammunition, as well as a bill that would restrict carrying a shotgun or rifle in public.
Those bills need to go to the full Senate and be passed by the House as they were the Senate versions.
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