Rhode Island: Anti-Gun Bills that Violate Due Process Moving in the Senate

Rhode Island
Rhode Island
NRA - Institute for Legislative Action
NRA – Institute for Legislative Action

Fairfax, VA -(AmmoLand.com)- Tomorrow, June 18, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a pair of anti-gun bills upon rise of the Senate.

Senate Bill 503 and Senate Bill 520 are gun bans disguised as domestic violence prevention bills. These bills are part of a nationwide effort from Michael Bloomberg’s gun control group, Everytown For Gun Safety, to pass similar bills that violate due process in multiple states. Your NRA has been busy opposing similar misguided bills across the country this year.

The Rhode Island Legislature is in the final days of the 2015 session, and this last-minute push before session ends is deceptive. Many bills are quickly and quietly ushered through several steps of the legislative process in a short amount of time when they believe people are not paying attention. Both of these bills received hearings earlier this session, but were “held for further study.”

As previously reported, S.503, sponsored by state Senators Cynthia Coyne (D-32), Maryellen Goodwin (D-1), William Conley Jr. (D-18), Erin Lynch (D-31), and Senate President Paiva Weed (D-13), seeks to expand the list of those prohibited from owning firearms to include those who have committed certain misdemeanors. S.520, introduced by Senator Goodwin, would lower the threshold for a prohibited person from a felony to a misdemeanor, which could ultimately result in a lifetime ban on a constitutional right for a misdemeanor offense. Both bills would purposefully expand the “prohibited persons” category and have little or no rights restoration guarantees. NRA does not support any expansion of the prohibited persons category as defined by federal law, especially when there are due process concerns.

It is essential that you immediately contact your state Senator and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and politely request they oppose both of these misguided bills.

About the NRA-ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

For more information, please visit: www.nra.org. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.

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