Every gun owner in Rhode Island needs to contact House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi immediately. House Bill 5436, a sweeping ban on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, is scheduled for a vote in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, June 3rd, with a full House vote likely to follow later this week. Please use the Take Action button below to contact House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi and urge him to oppose this unconstitutional legislation and permanently table H.5436.
H.5436 is falsely marketed as an “assault weapons ban,” but in reality, it prohibits the sale, purchase, possession, and manufacture of a wide range of commonly owned rifles, handguns, and shotguns. The bill is so far-reaching that it even bans shotguns with fixed magazines capable of holding more than six rounds, meaning a standard snow goose hunting shotgun would be considered illegal.
While the Senate has not yet passed this bill, the House Judiciary Committee is expected to advance it. That’s why it is critical Speaker Shekarchi hears from Rhode Island’s law-abiding gun owners right now.
This legislation will do nothing to improve public safety. Instead, it punishes responsible citizens while doing nothing to stop criminals, who by definition do not follow the law and will continue to acquire firearms illegally.
NRA-ILA will continue to monitor this legislation and keep you informed as developments occur.