The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) is calling on Rhode Island lawmakers to reject a newly introduced bill that seeks to ban so-called “assault weapons” in the state. The legislation, H-5436, targets nearly all semi-automatic rifles capable of accepting detachable magazines, with limited exceptions for .22-caliber rimfire rifles with tubular magazines.
The bill has sparked fierce opposition from gun rights advocates, who argue that it infringes on Second Amendment rights and fails to address the root causes of violent crime. CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb condemned the proposal, urging Rhode Island gun owners to voice their opposition to their elected representatives.
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H-5436, introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly, aims to ban a wide range of semi-automatic firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and pistols, based on their ability to accept detachable magazines. The legislation would exempt only .22-caliber rimfire rifles with tubular magazines, effectively criminalizing the ownership of many commonly used firearms.
Proponents of the bill argue that it is a necessary step to improve public safety and reduce gun violence. However, critics contend that the legislation unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners while doing little to address criminal activity.
In a strongly worded statement, CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb criticized the bill as an overreach that undermines constitutional rights. “The authors of this legislation seem intent on banning every semi-automatic rifle possible, plus several models of semi-auto shotguns and various popular pistols,” Gottlieb said. “We’ve seen similar legislation in other states, all appearing to follow the same general formula, and they all amount to egregious efforts to erode the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, without any reference to arresting and prosecuting armed criminals.”
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Gottlieb also took issue with the bill’s focus on the appearance and functionality of firearms rather than their actual use in crimes. “It is distressing to hear state officials argue for bans on firearms based on their appearance or their ability to accept certain accessories,” he said. “Likewise, for the supporters of this bill to claim it somehow is aimed at gun safety is ludicrous. They seem to equate criminalizing firearms with gun safety, which strains common sense and will likely not prevent a single violent crime.”
Gottlieb specifically criticized Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, who has publicly supported the bill. In a prepared statement, Neronha argued that there is “no need” for private citizens to own certain types of firearms.
“When Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha declares there is ‘no need’ for a private citizen to own a certain type of firearm,” Gottlieb remarked, “one has to wonder who put him in charge of determining someone else’s ‘need.’ Besides, the Second Amendment is not about anyone’s ‘needs,’ it’s about rights. It is actually the cornerstone of the Bill of Rights.”
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The CCRKBA is urging Rhode Island gun owners and grassroots activists to oppose H-5436 by contacting their local representatives and demanding a “No” vote.
“We’re encouraging Rhode Island gun owners and grassroots activists to vigorously oppose H-5436,” Gottlieb said. “They should immediately contact their local representatives and ask for a ‘No’ vote, and send a message to the General Assembly that banning whole classes of firearms is not the way to reduce violent crime or tragedy resulting from negligence.”
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