Gun Control Advocates & GOP Blast Amended Assault Weapons Ban Bill

Gun Control Advocates & GOP Blast Amended Assault Weapons Ban Bill

Rhode Island Senate Leadership is touting a "revised" gun bill now set for a committee vote this week - and gun control advocates are blasting the new version. 

The Rhode Island General Assembly announced on Tuesday that the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on legislation to "restrict the sale of certain military-style firearms;" the committee is scheduled to vote on a revised version of the legislation Wednesday at 3:15 PM in Room 313 of the State House.

Both gun control advocates and Republicans criticized the revised bill.

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The original bill (2025-S 359) is sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Louis DiPalma; the Judiciary Committee heard testimony regarding the underlying legislation, known as the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, on May 14.

Now, there is an amended version. 

The proposed amendment would prohibit the manufacture, purchase, sale, or transfer of certain firearms, sometimes referred to as military-style weapons, including certain types of semi-automatic rifles and shotguns with a fixed magazine exceeding six rounds or a revolving cylinder. Individuals in lawful possession of the covered firearms prior to the effective date could continue to possess them, according to the General Assembly press release. 

The legislation "includes exceptions for law enforcement agencies and federally licensed firearms dealers. Federally licensed dealers would still be authorized to accept the specified firearms and to sell them to other licensed dealers, law enforcement, or outside of the state to individuals who can lawfully possess them."

Criminal penalties for anyone convicted of violating the ban include up to 10 years in prison, or a fine up to $10,000, and forfeiture of the firearm.

The bill would take effect on July 1, 2026

 

Gun Control Advocates Express "Dismay"

The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence on Tuesday "expressed dismay" with the Senate Sub A. 

"Knowing we have a strong assault weapons ban bill that has already passed the House of Representatives (H5436A), and knowing that the bill has the votes on the Senate floor, we don’t understand how a weakened version of the bill would be acceptable to advocates, lawmakers or partners,” said RICAGV Executive Director Melissa Carden. “We have conveyed our opposition to this proposal in the Senate to Senate Leadership and our Senate sponsor." 

“We implore Senate President Lawson to do everything she can to get the amended House bill (H5436A), or a Senate equivalent, to the floor where we know it would pass,” she added.

RICAGV did not respond to additional questions regarding their concerns with the amended legislation. 

 

Senate President Lawson Defends the New Version

The amended bill "includes more precise definitions of the weapons that would be prohibited. The amendment also eliminates a requirement that owners of grandfathered weapons register them with local or state police, and does not include the voluntary program, proposed in House-passed legislation, through which those who already own the specified weapons could get a certificate of possession from their local police department. Removal of this provision helps to assuage concerns that such language was tantamount to an unconstitutional gun registry."

“I am grateful to Chairman LaMountain and all the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for their hard work on this very important issue. I look forward to casting my vote in favor of this legislation with the hope of making Rhode Island a safer place for all," said Senate President Valarie Lawson (D–Dist. 14, East Providence).

The committee is also scheduled to consider an identical amendment to the House version of the legislation, 2025-H 5436A, sponsored by Rep. Jason Knight, (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren).

 

GOP Opposes Changes

Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz and Senate Minority Whip Gordon Rogers are ex-officio members of the Committee, and they along with Committee Member Senator Thomas J. Paolino do not support the legislation in either its original or amended form.

“The amended legislation still goes too far, banning certain shotguns and infringing on the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens,” said Rogers. “With all eyes on this high-profile vote, maintaining the integrity of the legislative process is crucial.”

“While I do not support the legislation in any form, I appreciate that the bills, 2025-S 359 and 2025-H5436A, will be voted on by the Senate Judiciary Committee – which heard hours and hours of public testimony,” said de la Cruz. “I give credit to Senate President Valarie Lawson and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Matthew LaMountain for not circumventing the process by moving this legislation to any other committee when it unequivocally belongs in Judiciary.”