Guns & Bills: What You Need To Know About Smith Hill's Proposals

PROVIDENCE, RI — Thousands of people — on both sides of the gun control debate — lined up at the Statehouse on Tuesday to comment about several bills aiming to change the state's laws about firearms. The Legislative Press Bureau sent Patch a round-up of the measures that are under discussion in the House and the state Senate.

The House is considering a 'Red Flag' bill and a ban on bump stocks and other devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire like automatic weapons.

Here are the highlights from the press bureau.

· 2018-H 7075 —Sponsored by Rep. Robert E. Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown), this bill makes possession or use of a semi-automatic weapon rapid fire device, including bump stocks, binary triggers or trigger cranks, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or $10,000 fine.

· 2018-H 7688, 2018-H 7763 — These bills, sponsored by Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) and Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (D-Dist. 5, Providence), respectively, would create extreme risk protection orders, which allow courts to order the surrender of firearms by those who they have determined present a threat of violence to themselves or others.

Also, the state Senate is considering companion bills and these other measures.

· 2018-S 2492, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and known as the “Red Flag” law, provides that persons subject to extreme risk protection orders for being an imminent danger of causing personal injury shall surrender all firearms while subject to the order.

· 2018-S 2493, sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence), restricts possession and sale of new assault weapons, limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds or less, and provides “grandfather” protections for current possession/ownership.

· 2018-S 2319, sponsored by Sen. Gayle L. Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence), criminalizes the manufacture, import, possession, purchase, sale or transfer of any ammunition feeding device capable of accepting more than 10 rounds, known as high capacity magazines.

· 2018-S 2292, sponsored by Sen. James A. Seveney (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton), and 2018-S 2271, sponsored by Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, North Kingstown, Narragansett). Both bills would make possession or use of a semi-automatic weapon rapid fire device, such as bump stocks, binary triggers and trigger cranks, a crime punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000) fine.

· 2018-S 2134, sponsored by Sen. Stephen A. Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, Johnston, North Providence), directs the Attorney General to report annually to the General Assembly on the incidence and disposition of crimes involving guns.

· 2018-S 2148, sponsored by Sen. Frank A. Ciccone (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence), allows those persons with concealed carry permits issued by other states to carry upon their person weapons in Rhode Island, provided that the issuing state recognizes and gives reciprocity to RI permit holders.

Information Courtesy Legislative Press Bureau