Call House Committee Members TODAY in Opposition!
On Tuesday, House Bill 6160 was heard in the House Judiciary Committee. After vocal opposition and testimony from gun owners, this committee voted to “hold the bill for further study.” This procedural move keeps this legislation alive, but it does not advance in the legislative process without further action.
Sponsored by state Representative Larry Valencia (D-39), House Bill 6160 would remove the town clerk and sergeant from the list of licensing officers for concealed carry permits. This legislation would impact residents of small towns like Exeter that do not have a chief of police and force gun owners to apply to the state Attorney General for concealed carry permits. Attorney General-issued permits can be “May-issue” in practice. This transfer of powers would effectively change the current “Shall-Issue” law to “May-Issue,” making it much more difficult for those who wish to exercise their constitutional rights to obtain a carry permit.
With only a few weeks remaining in the 2013 legislative session, it is important that you continue to contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose House Bill 6160. This legislation would set a dangerous precedent for letting towns circumvent Rhode Island’s concealed carry law, which could greatly impact your inherent right to self-defense as a citizen of the Ocean State.
House Judiciary Committee:
Representative Edith H. Ajello (D-3), Chairman
Representative John J. DeSimone (D-5), Vice Chairman
(401) 454-1400
Representative Joseph S. Almeida (D-12)
(401) 467-7033
Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-2)
(401) 484-8814
Representative Dennis M. Canario (D-71)
(401) 683-4926
Representative Doreen Marie Costa (R-31)
(401) 206-6891
Representative Robert E. Craven, Sr. (D-32)
(401) 294-2222
Representative Donald J. Lally Jr. (D-33)
(401) 792-9090
Representative Charlene Lima (D-14)
(401) 946-5707
Representative Michael J. Marcello (D-41)
(401) 647-5905
Representative Peter F. Martin (D-75)
(401) 924-2404
Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-23)
(401) 827-0100
Representative Donna M. Walsh (D-36)
(401) 364-6433