PROVIDENCE, R.I. –-(Ammoland.com)- A slew of anti-gun bills is working their way through the Rhode Island legislature.
The first bill is the “Large Capacity Feeding Device Ban Of 2022” (H 6614). The bill will make it a felony for anyone caught in Rhode Island with a firearm magazine that holds more than ten rounds. If the bill passes, a gun owner that possesses one of these magazines can face up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine.
Ten Democrats sponsored the bill, including Justine Caldwell, Jason Knight, and Bob Craven. It is currently referred to the House Judiciary, where it is expected to pass. The bill has received backing from multiple Bloomberg anti-gun groups like Mom’s Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. Almost all gun rights groups have opposed the bills and see them as violations of the Second Amendment.
The second bill is called “An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses — Assault Weapons.” This bill would ban the possession, the sale, or the transfer of a so-called “assault weapon.”
These guns are what those in the firearms world call “modern sporting rifles.” This category of guns includes AR-15 and AK pattern firearms. The AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the United States and has been referred to as the “modern American musket.”
The same ten Democrats that sponsored H 6614 also sponsored H 6615. The bill will make the possession of certain firearms a felony. The bill does include a grandfather clause for those gun owners that already own these rifles. The catch is that the owners will have to register the firearms with the state.
Rhode Island gun owners are concerned about letting the government know what firearms they own. Many in the firearms community believe that a registration will lead to gun confiscations.
Right now, the Rhode Island government doesn’t know who owns these guns. They also don’t know how many of these firearms are in the state. By creating a registry, the government will know where each of these firearms is located.
Those firearms owners that choose not to comply with the draconian law can be charged with a felony. The punishment could be a three-year sentence in prison and a $2500 fine. These gun bans have been pushed in multiple states with mixed results. A similar bill was introduced two years ago in Virginia and failed to pass the Democrat-controlled legislature. This bill is also referred to the House Judiciary.
The same ten Rhode Island Democrats have also introduced H 6616. This bill will require all ammunition buyers to go through a background check. This bill will ban even private transfers of ammunition. The bill also requires background checks on reloading supplies.
New laws on ammunition transfers have been popping up across the country. These laws have popped up in California and have been championed by anti-gun groups. Some gun rights advocates think that background checks on ammunition are designed to add a new burden on gun owners to discourage them from buying ammo.
Right now, the Rhode Island House is controlled by Democrats. It will take a monstrous effort to defeat the bills, but it can be done. In other states such as Virginia, the pushback by gun owners was key to defeating similar bills. Rhode Island gun owners should contact their representatives to let them know that they oppose the proposed new laws.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
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