Rhode Island Lawmaker Pass Sweeping “Assault Weapons” Ban

Rhode Island legislators passed a broad ban against so-called “assault weapons” last week, prohibiting the sale of a variety of popular semi-auto guns.

S.359A passed both the state’s House and Senate.

Under the new provision, firearms that meet certain requirements will be prohibited from being sold in the state – though gun owners already in possession of banned guns would be allowed to keep them.

Semi-automatic centerfire rifles holding more than 10 rounds in a fixed magazine or ones that can accept detachable magazines with a larger capacity, paired with one of the six other features listed, would be banned. Those features include:

• Folding or telescopic stock
• Pistol grip
• Thumbhole stock
• Flash suppressor
• Threaded barrel
• Barrel shroud

Shotguns and pistols won’t escape the ban, with the bill also laying out that any semi-auto shotguns with a 6-shot capacity in a fixed mag would also be banned, as well as semi-auto pistols with a fixed mag holding over 10 rounds.

It’s worth noting that military personnel and law enforcement officers are exempt from the ban.

Individuals who violate the ban face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Anti-gun advocates applauded the measure and said it was a step towards saving American lives.

“Assault weapons bans save lives – period. This lifesaving bill has, in its twelfth year of introduction, moved further through the legislative process than ever before, and that is a testament to the bill’s sponsors, Representative Knight and Senator DiPalma, who have relentlessly and unwaveringly pushed and championed this policy. Compromise is a part of public policy progress, and the amended version of this bill is still a massive step forward in limiting access to weapons of war and a Rhode Island free from gun violence,” Monisha Henley, senior vice president of government affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement.

The Rhode Island Revolver and Rifle Association said that though the bill has passed, the work to fight against it isn’t quite over.

“Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to stop this bill. Your emails, calls, trips to the state house moved some legislators. Our work is not over. We now work to prepare for next session and the upcoming elections in 2026,” the group posted to Facebook.

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Additional Resources

• S.359A
• Everytown Statement
• Facebook