While Many Oppose Watered-Down RI Assault Weapon Bill, McKee Endorses It

While Many Oppose Watered-Down RI Assault Weapon Bill, McKee Endorses It

Both gun control advocates and gun rights advocates are critical of the assault weapon legislation that was passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly on Friday.

The leading gun control group in Rhode Island blasted the legislature's move to water down the bill.

The bill passed by the legislature, “Unlawful Sale of Prohibited Firearms Act,” was called “a weakened version of the assault weapons ban, and in fact not an assault weapons ban.”

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“We were shocked to see that the only reason this bill was watered down was to please the anti-gun safety groups and to get the support of the Senate Majority leader, a licensed gun dealer,” said Melissa Carden, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence.

“We regret we did not have a seat at the table and were not asked for input at all on this new bill that was made public on Tuesday afternoon. We are baffled as to why the Attorney General's office also had no seat at the table and was not asked for input when this legislation was crafted, as is typically the way the process works. We are committed to passing a true assault weapons ban and we will be back next session to pass a bill that reflects the best policy for public safety,” she added. 

“We know many of our champions in the Senate are deeply upset with this outcome and felt that they needed to reluctantly vote yes, as the bill will ban the sale of many weapons that are often used in mass shootings. And we hope they will continue to fight with us as we work to make Rhode Island the safest state in the country," said Carden.

Speaker Joe Shekarchi’s office told GoLocal that he was disappointed in the Senate version, which was ultimately the final bill forwarded to Governor Dan McKee. Shekarchi supported Representative Jason Knight’s assault weapons ban, H5436A, the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025. 

 

McKee Endorsement

But McKee is an enthusiastic supporter of the weakened bill.

“I’m proud that Rhode Island took an important step forward in protecting our communities from gun violence. I included an assault weapons ban in my budget for this very reason — and as a result, tonight we saw progress,” said McKee in a statement.

“I thank the General Assembly and the many advocates for their tireless work, and I hope they will join me when I sign this piece of legislation into law. As Governor, I remain committed to working with our partners on common-sense gun safety measures to keep our communities safe,” McKee added.

On the flip side, conservatives criticize the legislation.

 

Republican State Senators, House Minority Leader, and Party Criticized Bill

“This legislation is a token gesture that undermines the rights of responsible Rhode Islanders while ignoring the clear protections laid out in the Second Amendment and does nothing to stop criminals. It is ineffective, unconstitutional, and based on false premises,” said Senate Minority Whip Gordon Rogers (R-Dist. 21, Foster, Coventry, Scituate, West Greenwich).

“This bill is going to ban the future sale and transfer of firearms that thousands of Rhode Islanders already own and use—based on features like a folding stock or a pistol grip. These features don’t make a gun more dangerous—it makes it easier for someone to handle safely,” according to Senator Thomas J. Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield).

Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz (R-Dist. 23 - North Smithfield, Burrillville, Glocester) added, “The firearms targeted by this bill are among the most commonly owned in the United States. The Supreme Court has affirmed in Heller and Bruen that banning arms “in common use” violates the Second Amendment. This bill invites future confiscation and legal uncertainty. Real public safety solutions—like enforcing existing laws, addressing mental health, and securing our schools—were ignored in favor of restricting responsible gun owners.”

Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale said about the bill, “The passage of the amended Assault Weapons Ban marks a dark day for constitutional governance in Rhode Island. What was once presented as a public safety measure has now been fully unmasked as nothing more than a political trophy - an opportunistic maneuver by a handful of ambitious politicians desperate to elevate their public profiles and position themselves for higher office.”

The Rhode Island Republican Party announced it "is sounding the alarm after the Democrat-controlled General Assembly rammed through an Assault Weapons Ban — a blatant, unconstitutional attack on the rights of law-abiding Rhode Islanders."

“This is a disgrace,” said RI GOP Chairman Joe Powers. “Democrats in this state have abandoned the Constitution, abandoned the people, and embraced a one-party dictatorship that no longer hides its contempt for freedom.”