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BumRushDaShow

(156,467 posts)
Sat Jun 21, 2025, 08:38 AM Jun 21

Rhode Island lawmakers pass bill to ban sales of assault weapons

Source: AP

Updated 12:56 AM EDT, June 21, 2025


PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island’s Democratic-controlled state House on Friday approved legislation that would ban the sale and manufacturing of many semiautomatic rifles commonly referred to as assault weapons.

The proposal now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Dan McKee, who said in a post on the social platform X on Friday evening that he plans to sign the bill into law. If that happens, Rhode Island will join 10 states that have some sort of prohibition on high-powered firearms that were once banned nationwide and are now largely the weapon of choice among those responsible for most of the country’s devastating mass shootings.

Gun control advocates have been pushing for an assault weapons ban in Rhode Island for more than a decade. However, despite being a Democratic stronghold, lawmakers throughout the country’s smallest state have long quibbled over the necessity and legality of such proposals.

The bill only applies to the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and not possession. Only Washington state has a similar law. Residents looking to purchase an assault weapon from nearby New Hampshire or elsewhere will also be blocked. Federal law prohibits people from traveling to a different state to purchase a gun and returning it to a state where that particular of weapon is banned.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/rhode-island-semiautomatic-gun-ban-a2f4af9d91a2581905cd8212d536b7a5

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Rhode Island lawmakers pass bill to ban sales of assault weapons (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Jun 21 OP
Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 21 #1
From the OP article BumRushDaShow Jun 21 #2
Exactly, however, if the rifle is purchased in another state, then Federal law requires MarineCombatEngineer Jun 21 #5
Well the troll BumRushDaShow Jun 21 #6
Well the troll was wrong, as evidenced by their disappearance from this board. MarineCombatEngineer Jun 21 #7
Way to go, Rhode Island! Bayard Jun 21 #3
And the Supreme Court will say NO question everything Jun 21 #4
What about assault weapons already in Rhode Island? Archae Jun 21 #8
I posted the bill text upthread BumRushDaShow Jun 21 #9

Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

BumRushDaShow

(156,467 posts)
2. From the OP article
Sat Jun 21, 2025, 09:01 AM
Jun 21
The bill only applies to the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and not possession.


Meaning, RI will no longer allow any manufacturers to set up shop there nor will allow dealers to sell them. It doesn't ban "possession" meaning obviously someone can go to another state and get one.

MarineCombatEngineer

(15,862 posts)
5. Exactly, however, if the rifle is purchased in another state, then Federal law requires
Sat Jun 21, 2025, 11:42 AM
Jun 21

that the firearm be shipped to an FFL dealer in the State of Rhode Island for the background check, so I'm not quite sure how that works out.
I would imagine that the firearm is paid for at the point of sale so it could be reasonably argued that it's not being sold in the State of Rhode Island, so it would be legal.

MarineCombatEngineer

(15,862 posts)
7. Well the troll was wrong, as evidenced by their disappearance from this board.
Sat Jun 21, 2025, 12:24 PM
Jun 21

There is, IMHO, nothing wrong with this bill, it doesn't actually restrict anyone from purchasing one of these rifles, it just restricts the manufacture and sale of such weapons within the state.

 

Archae

(47,245 posts)
8. What about assault weapons already in Rhode Island?
Sat Jun 21, 2025, 12:30 PM
Jun 21

Once again the enforcement question comes up.

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