Rhode Island’s anti-gunners last year successfully pushed through a ban on popular sporting rifles, including the ubiquitous AR-15. To make the move more acceptable, lawmakers “grandfathered” citizens who already owned the firearms and allowed them to remain in their possession.
That was then, and this is now.
State Rep. Teresa Tazi (D) this week declared that these guns must be removed from circulation, using “police power” if necessary. The new proposal would eliminate carveouts in last year’s statute.
Politicians want to readdress last year’s semi-automatic firearm ban
Tanzi on Wednesday told reporters, “Last year, we as a body, banned the sale, manufacture, and transfer of certain ‘assault weapons’ as defined in that law. That was an important step, but it was only a partial one. We should be honest about that.”
The representative lamented that law-abiding citizens were allowed to keep their property despite the prohibition.
“We have said that these firearms cannot enter the marketplace going forward, but we continue to allow them to remain in circulation indefinitely,” Tanzi charged. “If these weapons are too dangerous to be sold in Rhode Island, then we really should have addressed possession at the same time. We didn’t, and this bill corrects that.”
Anti-gunners want nothing less than door-to-door confiscation
By “corrects,” she means that the state should embark on a sweeping confiscation program.
Critics charge that this scheme, besides the obvious infringement on Second Amendment rights, also runs afoul of the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause.
Tanzi denied this, claiming instead that Rhode Island would merely be “exercising its police power” by conducting a statewide gun grab.
Not surprisingly, H8073 would create harsh punishments for those who hang on to their firearms. Anyone not in compliance with the mandate would face up to 10 years in prison upon conviction for possessing one of these popular weapons.
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.