Rhode Island: Concealed Carry Attack Stalls in Committee, But This Bill is Still Alive

Call House Committee Members TODAY in Opposition!

On Tuesday, House Bill 6160 was heard in the House Judiciary Committee.  After vocal opposition and testimony from gun owners, this committee voted to “hold the bill for further study.”  This procedural move keeps this legislation alive, but it does not advance in the legislative process without further action.

Sponsored by state Representative Larry Valencia (D-39), House Bill 6160 would remove the town clerk and sergeant from the list of licensing officers for concealed carry permits.  This legislation would impact residents of small towns like Exeter that do not have a chief of police and force gun owners to apply to the state Attorney General for concealed carry permits.  Attorney General-issued permits can be “May-issue” in practice.  This transfer of powers would effectively change the current “Shall-Issue” law to “May-Issue,” making it much more difficult for those who wish to exercise their constitutional rights to obtain a carry permit.

With only a few weeks remaining in the 2013 legislative session, it is important that you continue to contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose House Bill 6160.  This legislation would set a dangerous precedent for letting towns circumvent Rhode Island’s concealed carry law, which could greatly impact your inherent right to self-defense as a citizen of the Ocean State.

House Judiciary Committee:

Representative Edith H. Ajello (D-3), Chairman

[email protected]

Representative John J. DeSimone (D-5), Vice Chairman

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(401) 454-1400

Representative Joseph S. Almeida (D-12)

[email protected]

(401) 467-7033

Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-2)

[email protected]

(401) 484-8814

Representative Dennis M. Canario (D-71)

[email protected]

(401) 683-4926

Representative Doreen Marie Costa (R-31)

[email protected]

(401) 206-6891

Representative Robert E. Craven, Sr. (D-32)

[email protected]

(401) 294-2222

Representative Donald J. Lally Jr. (D-33)

[email protected]

(401) 792-9090

Representative Charlene Lima (D-14)

[email protected]

(401) 946-5707

Representative Michael J. Marcello (D-41)

[email protected]

(401) 647-5905

Representative Peter F. Martin (D-75)

[email protected]

(401) 924-2404

Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-23)

[email protected]

(401) 827-0100

Representative Donna M. Walsh (D-36)

[email protected]

(401) 364-6433