State house to host testimony in debate on RI assault weapon ban

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The conversation continues Wednesday at the state house over a ban on assault weapons in Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on the controversial bill.

If passed, the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 would ban the sale, purchase and possession of assault weapons.

The bill calls for a penalty of up to ten years in prison, or a fine of up to $10,000.

There are mechanisms being discussed that would allow for residents already owning assault weapons to keep them.

The bill was previously heard in the house judiciary committee, which sparked protests between gun owners and gun control advocates.

The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence is asking members to submit written testimony and testify in the hearing.

After the house hearing in March, the group backed the bill.

Interested residents are being asked to wear orange in support of the ban.

Ahead of today’s hearing, Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a critic of the bill, will join a group of gun owners and Second Amendment Supporters for a press conference.

The assault weapons ban is not the only gun-related bill the committee will consider Wednesday afternoon.

Senator de la Cruz has also introduced a bill that would allow legally certified gun owners the right to sue a business or organization for not allowing them to bring a gun inside.

Senator de la Cruz’s press conference is at 1 p.m. at the state house library.

The senate judiciary committee hearings on the ban and other bills is at 2 p.m.