Firearms Bills Are Being Heard This Week at RI State House -- See Which Ones
GoLocalProv News Team
Firearms Bills Are Being Heard This Week at RI State House -- See Which Ones
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House
The House Judiciary Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, March 30 at 1 PM in the House Lounge of the State House to hear testimony on several bills that relate to firearms.
Among the bills being heard are the following pieces of legislation:
· 2022-H 6616, sponsored by Rep. Justine A. Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), prohibits the sale or transfer of ammunition unless the purchaser successfully undergoes a background check.
· 2022-H 7407, sponsored by Rep. Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick), mandates that police officers qualify in the use of firearms in both daylight and nighttime conditions two times per year and that correctional officers qualify every year instead of once every two years.
· 2022-H 7457, sponsored by Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown), increases the age from 18 to 21 years for lawful sale of firearms or ammunition. The bill exempts full-time law enforcement, state marshals and members of the U.S. military from these prohibitions.
· 2022-H 7692, sponsored by Rep. Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Glocester, Coventry), requires that whenever a person is charged with possession of a firearm with alteration of identification marks, the alteration would create a rebuttable presumption that the person is a danger to the safety of the community.
· 2022-H 7703, sponsored by Rep. Edward T. Cardillo, Jr. (D-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston), authorizes a retail storeowner or their agent to use reasonable force to defend the persons and property of the retail establishment. The owner or their agent could use deadly force to respond to a crime of violence.
The meeting will be televised on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox Channels 15, and 61, in high definition on Cox Channel 1061, on Full Channel on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers, and live streamed at http://rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.
Individuals may testify in person before the committee at the State House. Sign-up sheets are available in/outside the hearing room.
Written testimony is strongly encouraged and may be submitted via [email protected].
Senate
The Senate will hold hearings Thursday on bills concerning firearms. The committee is also scheduled to meet tomorrow on a variety of bills.
On Thursday, March 31, at 3 PM in Room 313 on the third floor of the State House, the committee will hold hearings on many bills concerning guns, including:
· 2022-S 2637 — Sponsored by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence), this bill would prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition to those under 21 years of age.
· 2022-S 2734 — This bill sponsored by Sen. James A. Seveney (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton) would make it a felony to store a firearm unlocked.
· 2022-S 2653 — Sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Cynthia A. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), this bill would prohibit high-capacity magazines.
· 2022-S 2378 — This bill sponsored by Sen. Gordon E. Rogers (R-Dist. 21, Foster, Coventry, Scituate, West Greenwich) would permit Rhode Islanders age 21 and up to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, subject to meeting certain safety qualifications.
This meeting will be streamed live at https://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx. It will be televised later on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox Channels 15 and 61, in high definition on Cox Channel 1061, on Full Channel on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers.