Raimondo, Neronha Introduce Package of Bills Aimed at Gun Safety Reform
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Attorney General Peter Neronha unveiled a package of four new bills aimed at gun safety reform on Thursday at the Rhode Island State House.
"In just the past few months, we've seen horrific acts of gun violence across the country and here at home in communities like Westerly and Pawtucket. We owe it to Rhode Islanders to pass common-sense gun safety measures, and we simply cannot wait any longer. I'm proud to support these critical reforms, and I'm grateful to my colleagues in the General Assembly who wasted no time in introducing potentially lifesaving legislation,” said Raimondo.
In addition to the new bills, Raimondo and Neronha are supporting four other bills that were introduced by members of the General Assembly earlier in the legislative session.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“My Office sees the fallout from gun violence every day, particularly on victims and their families. Certainly, aggressive prosecution of those who engage in such conduct is warranted and is among this Office’s highest priorities. Yet there is still more to do on the prevention side – to keep guns out the hands of those of those shouldn’t have them in the first place,” said Neronha.
The Bills
The four new bills introduced by the Governor and Attorney General are:
- Straw Purchasers: Makes it a crime to purchase a firearm on behalf of another person who the purchaser knows or suspects would be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a gun themselves.
- Safe Schools: Prevents people with concealed carry permits from carrying weapons on school grounds. This legislation includes exceptions for active and retired law enforcement.
- Safe Storage: Requires that all firearms be stored safely (i.e., locked and unloaded) unless under the direct control of the firearm owner or another authorized user.
- Rifles and Shotguns on Public Roads: Prohibits loaded rifles and shotguns from being carried on public rights of way in Rhode Island, either within or outside a vehicle. This legislation includes exemptions for law enforcement and hunters engaged in lawful hunting activity.
The Governor and the Attorney General are also supporting the following bills:
- Assault Weapons Ban, H7263/S2131: Bans all semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols that can hold a detachable magazine or more than a certain number of rounds without a magazine; and contains at least one of the other features associated with assault weapons specified in the law.
- High-Capacity Magazine Ban, H7264/S2130: Limits all firearm magazines to 10 rounds. People in possession of these magazines would have 180 days to sell, modify, or dispose of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The bill contains limited exceptions for law enforcement and active-duty military.
- 3D/Ghost Gun Ban, H7102/S2004: Bans the manufacturing, importation, sale, shipment, delivery, possession or transfer of undetectable firearms.
- Background Check Loophole Closure, H7103/S2154/S2261: Provides that applications to purchase firearms be sent by the seller to the police department in the city or town where the purchaser lives.
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