PROVIDENCE, RI –-(Ammoland.com)- On Wednesday, a slew of new firearms bills will hit the House Committee of Judiciary in Rhode Island.
The most concerning of these bills to gun owners is HB 6616 entitled, An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Weapons {LC3480/1}. The bill would “prohibit the sale or transfer of ammunition unless the purchaser successfully undergoes a background check. The bill is the brainchild of Justine Caldwell (D-30), who has ties to Everytown for Gun Safety.
The bill mirrors the law on ammunition in California. It treats ammo as if it is a firearm. Ammunition can be expensive, and one of the most cost-effective ways for gun owners to acquire the rounds they need for their guns is to buy it online. This bill will require the ammunition purchased online to be shipped to an FFL before being transferred to the buyer.
Ranges make a large portion of their money through ammunition sales. New shooters usually do not purchase ammo before heading to the range. If this new law is passed, instead of renting a firearm and buying ammunition to try out shooting, the new shooter will have to go through a background check. A large segment of the population gets delayed when going through a background check, which could mean a new shooter will not be able to experience target practice. That delay could turn them off from exercising their right to bear arms.
Caldwell also introduced HB 7300. This bill is entitled An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Weapons {LC4273/1}. This act is a proposed safe storage law. The bill would make it illegal to store a firearm unsecured. The penalty for storing an unarmed firearm would be $3000.
HB 7889 is also of concern to gun owners. This bill is entitled An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Weapons {LC4828/1}. The bill will ban shooting ranges within one mile of a school. This stipulation will make much of the state off-limits to ranges. The bill was introduced by Brandon Potter (D-16). Potter is a far-left legislator with a history of being anti-gun.
Another bill is aimed at preventing people from exercising their rights is HB 7764. This bill is entitled, An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Weapons {LC5019/1}. The act will strip away the right to own a firearm from anyone who has ever been convicted of possessing a firearm without a license. The bill was introduced by Edward Cardillo (D-42).
The proposed law doesn’t have a time limit. A person convicted of carrying a firearm without a license at 18 could be denied the right to buy a gun at age 70. The person could have a clean record other than that one firearms charge and still get their rights stripped.
Another anti-gun bill was introduced by Teresa Tanzi (D-34). HB 7457, entitled An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Weapons {LC4437/1} would raise the age to buy a firearm and ammunition from 18 to 21. It is currently legal for an 18-year-old to buy a rifle. This bill would change that age limit. This change will have a chilling on hunting in Rhode Island.
On Wednesday, March 30, 2022, the bills will be heard at 1 pm in the House Lounge at State House. There will be a signup sheet to testify in person.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
Who’s electing these fools ? lol
Perhaps we are the fools. In Maine the senator Susan Collins voted against Amy Coney Barrett yet she says she’ll vote yay for Ketanji Brown Jackson. The people of Maine have been made fools of.
Of course we too can play the same game.
How does SC keep getting elected?
im in ca. shooting ranges are not for me, i went last weekend out to hound road off the 1 15 freeway when back about 2.5 miles into the desert and was setting up targets facing toward the north, away from the freeway. was out there , 4 hrs, shooting targets when confronted by a ranger , stated to me what was doing was wrong. and that later could if i continued could be fined and arrested . i told him it open desert with nothing around and shooting into a hill bank. hedidnt want to here me and i… Read more »
Good for you! He sounds like the Barney Fife type.
Between the EAST COAST and the WEST COAST, the turn coats will not defend our country at all, they will turn and run as there will be no resistance to stop any invasion from a foreign nation! they keep passing laws to impede any ownership of guns and ammunition and the execution of our 2nd AMMENDMENT RIGHTS, when the time comes, I know that the further they come into the country the more resistance they will run into to be stopped!
Wow, they’re trying to outdo Kommiefornia. Here in the golden (shower) state, ammo purchased at the range to be used at the range is exempt. An employee at a local indoor range strongly hinted that buying 4 boxes, only shooting two and taking the other two home was a way around the background check and the fee. When I said(in my best mock innocence voice) “but that’s against the law” , his reply was “not my job to enforce their stupid laws”. The insidious aspect of the CA background check is that it’s a form of back door gun registration.… Read more »
“AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES — WEAPONS (Increases the age from eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) years for lawful sale of firearms or ammunition. Exempts full-time law enforcement, state marshals and members of the U.S. military from these prohibitions.)”
Almost surprised it doesn’t add democrats as a “protected class”.