RI assault weapons ban bill taking heat from both sides of issue as committee vote looms

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The controversial Rhode Island assault weapons ban is up for vote Wednesday afternoon in the senate judiciary committee.

But the bill’s language has been revised since its passage in the house.

The revisions were made following testimony from opponents of the bill during a hearing in May.

The updated bill still prohibits the the “manufacture, sale, and purchase of prohibited firearms.”

But it doesn’t ban the lawful possession of assault-style weapons.

The amended bill includes clearer definitions of which guns would be banned.

It also eliminates the requirement for owners of grandfathered weapons to register them with local or state police.

It’s not sitting well with the Rhode Island coalition Against Gun Violence, who sent in a lengthy statement, that reads in part:

Knowing we have a strong assault weapons ban bill that has already passed the house of representatives, and knowing that the bill has the votes on the senate floor, we don’t understand how a weakened version of the bill would be acceptable to advocates, lawmakers or partners.

Meanwhile, the senate minority caucus sent in a statement on the revised bill, with Senate Minority Whip Gordon Rogers saying the bill still goes too far, as it bans “certain shotguns and (infringes) on the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens.”

The senate judiciary committee will vote on the new assaults’ weapons ban Wednesday afternoon at 3:15 p.m.