'Outright Assault': Burrillville Councilors Blast New Gun Bills

BURRILLVILLE, RI — The Burrillville Town Council has officially registered its opposition to 2021 gun control legislation up for debate before the Rhode Island General Assembly.

"I believe that this is nothing but an outright assault on our Second Amendment rights," said council president Donald Fox during a March 10 meeting where his "Resolution of the Town of Burrillville" against a slew of proposed new state gun laws gained unanimous support from the seven-member council.

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Councilor Jeremey Bailey said he supports efforts to reduce gun violence, but does not believe "removing firearms that are otherwise lawfully-owned from law-abiding citizens" will accomplish that aim.

"To reduce gun violence, increase the penalties for those committing crimes using firearms," Bailey said during the meeting.

"These bills, all of them combined, are not going to make anyone safer," said Councilor Raymond Trinque. "But it will make things more dangerous because crimes are committed with illegal weapons."

Burrillville in 2019 was the first community in Rhode Island to declare itself a "Second Amendment Sanctuary Town." At the time, the council voiced its support for the Second Amendment and vowed that it would not devote public resources to implementing gun laws that it deemed unconstitutional.

Burrillville Town Council President Donald Fox claims that gun control measures before the Rhode Island General Assembly amount to "ill-conceived and foolish legislation." (Photo courtesy Donald Fox)

The new town resolution passed last week re-affirms that declaration.

"We are collectively opposed to the infringement of these rights established by our founding Fathers," it reads.

The local measure takes aim at "unfunded mandates" relative to enforcement, asserting that many of the bills would require the confiscation and storage of firearms and make towns and cities responsible for those costs.

The resolution highlights certain measures, and takes aim at the Harold Metts School Safety Act, with its twin bills in the House and Senate. The act would ban the possession of firearms on school grounds except for peace officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons under contract to provide security, and unloaded firearms in a locked container or locked rack in motor vehicles.

The Burrillville councilors registered opposition to bills that would strip local authorities of their power to issue concealed carry permits; would require a gun purchaser to authorize the release of mental health and substance abuse records; and require all firearms within the home to be secured.

The resolution singles out House Bill 5554, which would ban large capacity feeding devices, and takes umbrage at House Bill 5556, the "Rhode Island Assault Ban Weapon Act of 2021." The act would prohibit the possession of "assault weapons," defined in part as any semi-automatic shotgun that holds more than six rounds or any semi-automatic rifle that holds more than 10 rounds and has at least one other feature, including a bayonet mount, a pistol grip, a flash suppressor, or a grenade launcher.

In order to be exempt, the weapon must, within 12 months of the bill's passage, be registered, be rendered inoperable, be surrendered to a registered gun dealer or police department, or be transferred to a person in another jurisdiction where such firearms are allowed. It would also require that any heirs to such a gun surrender or transfer the firearm.

Fox told Patch he believes progressive members of the General Assembly are taking advantage of COVID restrictions and trying to get the bills passed without the presence of vocal opponents. The State House remains closed to the public as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Generally, we'd have people lined up to testify in person," he said.

At 1 p.m. Friday, the state House Judiciary Committee plans to debate a collection of gun-related bills, but not all would increase restrictions. House Bill 5395 would mandate arming campus police at public colleges and House Bill 5558 would allow persons with concealed carry permits issued in other states to carry in Rhode Island under a reciprocal arrangement.

The full agenda and information about submitting written testimony can be viewed online. The hearing will be televised live on Capitol Television and live-streamed at www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV.