Tomorrow, June 24, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on a pair of anti-gun bills. Senate Bill 503 and Senate Bill 520 are gun bans disguised as domestic violence prevention bills. These bills are part of a nationwide effort from Michael Bloomberg's gun control group, Everytown For Gun Safety, to pass similar bills that violate due process in multiple states. Your NRA has been busy opposing similar misguided bills across the country this year.
The Rhode Island Legislature is in the final days of the 2015 session, and this last-minute push before session ends is deceptive. Many bills are quickly and quietly ushered through several steps of the legislative process in a short amount of time when they believe people are not paying attention. Both of these bills received hearings last week after being "held for further study" earlier in the session.
As previously reported, S.503, sponsored by state Senators Cynthia Coyne (D-32), Maryellen Goodwin (D-1), William Conley Jr. (D-18), Erin Lynch (D-31), and Senate President Paiva Weed (D-13), seeks to expand the list of those prohibited from owning firearms to include those who have committed certain misdemeanors. S.520, introduced by Senator Goodwin, would lower the threshold for a prohibited person from a felony to a misdemeanor, which could ultimately result in a lifetime ban on a constitutional right for a misdemeanor offense. Both bills would purposefully expand the "prohibited persons" category and have little or no rights restoration guarantees. NRA does not support any expansion of the prohibited persons category as defined by federal law, especially when there are due process concerns.
It is essential that you immediately contact your state Senator and politely request that he or she oppose both of these misguided bills. Click the above button to take action now!