Lawmakers to gather at State House for second day of hearings on gun-related bills

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island lawmakers are expected to gather at the State House Thursday for a second day of hearings on gun legislation in the state.

Nearly two-dozen gun-related bills were heard and discussed by lawmakers Wednesday afternoon.

Some bills stirred up more debate than others, including a proposed bill to ban high-capacity magazines and assault weapons.

Brenda Jacobs, secretary of the Revolver and Rifle Association, said that this won’t stop criminal behavior.

On the other side of the debate, Sydney Monstream-Quas, board chair of the Coalition Against Gun Violence, argued that this is one of the most important bills with trends happening in the state.

“We know that so many states have that, and that is critical for preventing mass carnage when people are trying to kill people,” said Monstream-Quas.

Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré spoke in support of a safe storage bill. The bill means that gun owners could be fined if they fail to leave their firearms secured.

While expressing his support, Pare referenced the police standoff on Denison Street last month.

The commissioner said the guns used in the Denison Street shootout were not owned by 60-year-old Scott MacLean but a family member, who left them unsecured despite MacLean’s history of mental illness.

The committee will hold hearings again at 3 p.m. at the State House.

If passed, these bills would “prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition to those under 21 years of age, make it a felony to store a firearm unlocked, prohibit high-capacity magazines, and permit Rhode Islanders age 21 and up to carry a concealed handgun without a permit.”