Governor and AG push for passage of several gun control bills

By: Ellie Romano

Email: ERomano@ABC6.com

Twitter: @ERomanoABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Governor Gina Raimondo (D-R.I.) and Attorney General Peter Neronha are pushing lawmakers to pass a package of gun control bills.

The governor made a similar announcement in February of last year, but the legislation she wanted to be passed did not go anywhere. 

In a press conference on Thursday, she said 2020 is the year to pass the bills. 

“This is our obligation as Rhode Islanders to get this right,” said Raimondo. 

The governor and attorney general introduced the following bills to the General Assembly: 

• Straw Purchasers: Makes it a crime to purchase a firearm on behalf of another person who the purchaser knows or suspects would be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a gun themselves.
• Safe Schools: Prevents people with concealed carry permits from carrying weapons on school grounds. This legislation includes exceptions for active and retired law enforcement.
• Safe Storage: Requires that all firearms be stored safely (i.e., locked and unloaded) unless under the direct control of the firearm owner or another authorized user.
• Rifles and Shotguns on Public Roads: Prohibits loaded rifles and shotguns from being carried on public rights of way in Rhode Island, either within or outside a vehicle. This legislation includes exemptions for law enforcement and hunters engaged in lawful hunting activity.

“Anyone with a concealed carry permit can walk into a school,” said Raimondo.

A rally for and against the bills was held following the governor’s announcement. 

“Being a concealed carry mom and being able to pick my kid up at school– if there ever was an incident I would like to hope that I could help instead of waiting for the authorities to come,” said Brenda Jacob with R.I. Revolver and Rifle Assoc. 

The Governor and the Attorney General are supporting the following bills: 

• Assault Weapons Ban: Bans all semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols that can hold a detachable magazine or more than a certain number of rounds without a magazine; and contains at least one of the other features associated with assault weapons specified in the law.
• High-Capacity Magazine Ban: Limits all firearm magazines to 10 rounds. People in possession of these magazines would have 180 days to sell, modify, or dispose of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The bill contains limited exceptions for law enforcement and active duty military.
• 3D/Ghost Gun Ban: Bans the manufacturing, importation, sale, shipment, delivery, possession or transfer of undetectable firearms. 
• Background Check Loophole Closure: Provides that applications to purchase firearms be sent by the seller to the police department in the city or town where the purchaser lives. 

The bill banning ghost guns passed in the House following her announcement. 

Last week, the House passed legislation that would require gun sellers to forward firearm applications to the superintendent of State Police and the police department of the city or town where the buyer resides.

“It goes after the law-abiding citizens,” said Jacob. “At the end of the day, the criminals are not going to obey the law.”

The governor and attorney general also want to create a central database to keep track of who is buying guns in the state.

“At this moment right now we don’t even know how many concealed carry permits there are,” said Raimondo.

“When we issue a concealed carry permit, local police departments don’t know, and vice versa,” said Neronha. 

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2020