Monday night was a busy night for the Senate Judiciary Committee as the panel heard testimony on nearly two dozen gun bills. As previously reported, there were a few pro-gun bills discussed, however most of the attention was focused on legislation, which if passed, would present a historic assault on the Second Amendment rights of Rhode Islanders. Most of these bills are broadly written and create severe penalties and outright gun bans.
Both the House and the Senate have now completed their major public hearings on gun legislation. It is customary for the committee to “hold the bills for further study,” a procedural move which keeps them very much alive and active. As the end of session approaches, this legislation could be resurrected with little to no advance warning. Therefore, it is imperative that gun owners remain engaged.
Thank you to all the NRA members who participated by either testifying by phone or submitting written testimony. The last 13 months have been unusual to say the least. The Capitol remains closed to the public due to COVID, and these “hearings” have all been virtual. This year is also different in that the Ocean State firearms community has not been able flood the Statehouse as in previous years to remind lawmakers of the widespread opposition to these measures. Do not let legislators forget.
Gun owners need to keep contacting both their State Representative and State Senator, especially if you have not done so already. Please continue to follow NRA-ILA alerts for the latest updates.
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