RI House passes all three gun reform bills, Senate committee to pick up debate Tuesday

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed three gun-reform bills in a rare Friday session.

The bills that now head to the Senate are a ban on large-capacity firearm magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, raising the age to buy a firearm and ammunition from 18 to 21 and to make it illegal to carry a loaded rifle or shotgun in public.

The debate on the floor took nearly five hours with all three bills passing.

The most contentious bill was the limiting of how many rounds a magazine can hold with  the discussion taking three and a half hours and several amendments being proposed.

Supporters of the bill said this is a step to take away of devices that are commonly used in mass shootings.

“Uvalde. Buffalo. Sandy Hook. Parkland. Las Vegas. Orlando. Sutherland Springs. Boulder. Aurora… the list goes on. High-capacity magazines enabled mass shooters to commit the most devastating, appalling, and most lethal attacks on the public in recent decades. With this bill, we are finally saying we will not tolerate these dangerous weapons,” said bill sponsor Representative Caldwell (D-East Greenwich).

Opponents said it negatively impacts law-abiding citizens by essentially banning common handguns that gun owners use for self-defense.

“It’s feel good legislation that strengthens the criminals and weakens law abiding citizens,” said Dep. Speaker Charlene Lima (D-Cranston)

Several amendments were proposed and ultimately shot down including raising the capacity to 15, allowing exemptions for those will concealed carry permits and domestic violence survivors who

have a protective order in place.

A grandfather clause was also proposed which drew the attention of Attorney General Peter Neronha sent a letter to legislators.

“The addition of a grandfather clause would render this legislation unenforceable and functionally meaningless and is unnecessary to protect law-abiding gun owners in Rhode Island,” wrote the AG.

The amendment ultimately failed and the bill passed on a 43-24 vote.

The House then discussed and passed a bill to raise the age to buy firearms and ammunition to 21, with the exception of those in the military and law enforcement by 53-15 margin.

“What we are actual doing are taking guns away from 18-20 years old who are committing murders at triple the rate of other adults,” said bill sponsor Teresa Tanzi (D-South Kingstown).

“This is something that will make a difference,” she added.

Opponents of the bill made several arguments including it would limit the ability for some in the 18-21 age group from fully participating in hunting and sport shooting.

“We have decided that 18,19,20 year olds cannot be trusted to have a gun, it is ludicrous, it does not solve the problem,” said Rep. Patricia Morgan (R-West Warwick).

An amendment to remove the ammunition aspect was shot down on a  50-17 vote.

In the least debated bill of the night, the House passed the bill to bar open carry of rifles in shotgun with exemptions for hunting and law enforcement by a vote of 53-16.

Following the House passage, Gov. Dan McKee reiterated once again that he will sign the bills when they get to his desk.

The bills that pass Friday will head to the Senate, which is scheduled to take up the bills starting Tuesday in committee.