Rhode Island lawmakers pass gun control bill

June 18, 2016 9:23 am

By: The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Legislation ordering some domestic-abuse convicts to surrender their guns has unanimously passed both chambers of Rhode Island’s legislature, but some Democrats say it didn’t go far enough.

A last-minute gun control debate emerged Friday in what legislative leaders hoped would be the last day of their annual session.

The bill would create a process for people convicted of domestic-violence felonies to surrender guns. After it was amended Friday, domestic-violence advocates described it as too weak and mostly symbolic because it’s already illegal for felons to have guns.

They pushed for more restrictive legislation covering people with domestic-violence misdemeanors or under protective orders.

Providence Democratic Rep. Edith Ajello was so upset by the watered-down version she asked for her name to be removed as a co-sponsor.

The bill goes to Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo, who has advocated for legislation to keep guns away from domestic abusers but hasn’t endorsed any specific measure.