RI Senate Judiciary Committee To Hear Gun Bills On Monday

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee meets Monday at 3 p.m. to hear a set of bills concerning firearms.

Among the bills are the Harold M. Metts School Safety Act, sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence). The measure would prohibit possession of firearms on school grounds except for peace officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons under contract to provide school security services, and unloaded firearms in locked containers or a locked rack on motor vehicles.

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A bill sponsored by Sen. Gayle L. Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence) would ban firearm magazines that hold 10 or more rounds.

A measure proposed by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) would prohibit the possession, sale, and transfer of assault weapons. Such weapons owned on the effective date of the act would be grandfathered subject to certain registration provisions.

Town officials in Burrillville and Lincoln have officially registered opposition to proposed gun control legislation in Rhode Island, citing 2nd Amendment rights. Last month the House Judiciary Committee met to consider 21 bills pertinent to firearms. The hearing went on for ten hours and all bills were held for further consideration.

Written testimony for the Senate committee hearing should be emailed to jpbaxter@rilegislature.gov. It should be sent by 2 p.m. Monday to be included in meeting records. Requests to provide verbal testimony must be submitted by 4 p.m. Sunday at this link.

Participants can join via WebEx. The meeting will be streamed by Capitol Television. The State House remains closed to the public due to the COVID 19 pandemic. In addition to the live stream, the meeting will be televised by Capitol Television on Channel 61 by Cox Communications, Channel 1061 by Cox HD customers, Channel 34 by Verizon viewers, and Channel 15 for Full Channel subscribers.