Two measures that have been introduced by anti-gun lawmakers in the Rhode Island House of Representatives are problematic, to say the least, for lawful gun owners.
Both House Bill 8073 and House Bill 7755 are currently under consideration in the House Judiciary Committee. HB 8073 would prohibit possession of firearms to be classified as ‘prohibited firearms,’ and HB 7755, would require firearm purchasers to complete a safety training course, with exemptions for some law enforcement and military personnel.
HB 8073 is perhaps the most problematic. According to a report at UScarry.com, the legislation would amend Section 11-47.2-2 of Rhode Island law to prohibit the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase and possession of firearms classified under state law as “prohibited firearms.” Penalties for violating the law are quite stiff, with up to 10 years in prison, fines up to $10,000 and forfeiture of the firearm in question.
According to the report, the proposal builds on legislation passed last year and signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee. That law banned the manufacture, purchase, sale and transfer of certain firearms described by lawmakers as “military-style weapons.” However, it allowed current owners to keep firearms they already possessed under a grandfather clause.
“Under the existing statute, lawful owners can keep those firearms,” the report stated. “They are also allowed to sell them to federally licensed firearm dealers or transfer them to individuals outside Rhode Island where possession is legal. House Bill H 8073 would change that by prohibiting possession altogether. If enacted, owners of these firearms would need to transfer them out of state or sell them through approved channels before the deadline outlined in the bill.”
The firearms targeted by Rhode Island’s law include certain semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns, including AR-style and AK-style semi-automatic rifles, as well as other similar firearms. Semi-automatic rifles that accept detachable magazines and have features such as pistol grips, folding or telescoping stocks, or flash suppressors may also fall under the definition, as might some semi-auto pistols.
HB 7755, which is known as the “Responsible Firearms Purchasing Act,” would require anyone seeking to purchase a firearm in the Ocean State to complete and pass a basic firearm safety training course. The course would include instruction on firearm handling, secure storage, firearm laws, safe shooting fundamentals, disengagement tactics, and injury and suicide prevention.
The legislation states: At the time of applying for the purchase of a concealable firearm, the purchaser shall …
“Present to the person selling the firearm a valid firearm safety training certificate issued by the office of the attorney general. The certificate shall be retained in the possession of the buyer. The firearm safety training certificate shall certify that the purchaser has completed and passed an approved basic firearm safety training course within the previous five (5) years. Until January 1, 2031, a purchaser may comply with the requirements of this section by presenting a firearm safety certificate issued by the Department of Environmental Management prior to the effective date of this section.”
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