Rhode Island lawmakers pass bill to ban sales of assault weapons

Associated Press via NY Post ^ | 6/21/25

[Libloather]

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.

[Libloather]

[DeplorableTrumpSupporter]

So Rhode Island are you banning baseball bats, hockey sticks or skateboards? How about knives? Automobiles?

Those are assault weapons in the hands of criminals...

[tumblindice]

DC v. Heller (2008)
Democrats just ignore laws they don’t like.

[Pocketdoor]

I would say this is an assault rifle...
The StG 44 (abbreviation of Sturmgewehr 44, “assault rifle 44”) is a German assault rifle developed during World War II by Hugo Schmeisser.

[Scrambler Bob]

Well, you are correct.

The whole FFL / purchasing / background check / etc. is not 2A.

But, here we are . . .

[mrmeyer]

That would only go so far until they got dealt with by friends and family

[MileHi]

And the rifles were still for sale all through the ban.

You could also buy used military surplus 30 round mags.

[Thommas]

high-powered firearms.. largely the weapon of choice among those responsible for most of the country’s devastating mass shootings.

Most? How many firearm mass murders so far this year versus negligent and intentional automobile homicides? Hmm?

What's this nebulous declaration of a firearm being "high-powered"?

This is a dog-whistle article for Leftists.

[exnavy]

I am going to live my life right where i was born, Michigan. I love this state. The locust reference is apt for all democrats. I even have democrat siblings. No fixing stupid.