A fierce debate over whether new sales of “military-style” firearms should be banned in Rhode Island took center stage during a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Supporters including bill sponsor state Rep. Jason Knight (D-Barrington) argued that so-called “assault weapons” guns are too lethal and increase the risk of a mass shooting.
Opponents countered by calling the language in Knight’s bill overly broad. They said it would prohibit the sale of an array of rifles, shotguns and pistols.
“Approximately 60% of all the firearms I sell would be affected by this definition, including firearms currently used for hunting and target shooting,” said William Worthy, co-owner of Big Bear Hunting and Fishing in Glocester and an indoor shooting facility in Exeter. “Should this bill pass, it would severely limit new sales of these firearms, putting our business at risk.”
Knight pushed back, saying that the new ban might affect some other guns, but not nearly as many as those cited by opponents. He said amendments to the bill were likely in response to some of the feedback.
Knight also cited Delaware and Maryland as two states where bans on “military-style” weapons have withstood court challenges and not subsequently been taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court.
For opponents of gun restrictions, the stakes are higher this year since Senate President Dominick Ruggerio — previously an impediment on allowing a vote on a ban on “military-style” firearms — has indicated a willingness to let the vote happen.
However, Ruggerio has wrestled with health issues and it’s possible that someone else could be leading the Senate later in the session.
Knight’s proposed “assault-style weapon” ban has attracted 40 consponsors, including the second-ranking member of the House, Majority Leader Chris Blazejewski.
The legislation appears likely to win support on the floor of the House and Senate, though first making it through the Senate Judiciary Committee could pose a bigger challenge.
Rep. Arthur Corvese (D-North Providence), who has supported previous bills backed by gun-safety advocates, called the proposed ban “problematic,” because, he said, there is not a common definition of what constitutes an “assault weapon.”
Gov. Dan McKee included a proposed “assault weapon” ban in his budget proposal in January. The House is considering Knight’s stand-alone bill after House Speaker Joe Shekarchi expressed opposition to the issue being debated as part of the budget.
The Judiciary hearing began at 2 p.m. and was expected to hear testimony from members of the public until close to midnight.
This story has been updated.
