Gun control advocates disappointed high-profile proposals did not clear General Assembly

Providence Journal ^ | July 17, 2013 | PHILIP MARCELO

[neverdem]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Governor Chafee has signed into law three bills that had been part of Democrats' legislative response to the Newtown, Conn., school shooting.

But Samantha Richard, of the Rhode Island chapter of Moms Demand Action, a national gun control group formed in the wake of the Newtown shooting, said it was "very disappointing" that many of the more high-profile proposals in the gun control package had not cleared the General Assembly before it recessed July 3.

In particular, she pointed to the proposed "Gun Control and Safe Firearms Act."

"That bill, which would have banned semiautomatic assault weapon purchase and sale in the future and limit magazine capacity, is critical to bringing back common sense to our gun legislation by keeping military grade weapons and ammunition away from everyday citizens, and leaving it on the battlefields of war where it belongs," Richard said.

The three bills signed by Chafee had been the least controversial of the measures in the nine-bill package that Chafee and Assembly Democrats released to fanfare in March.

Under one bill, anyone who knowingly receives, transports or possesses a firearm that has had its serial number or other identifying marks altered or obliterated will now face prison sentence of up to five years.

Another bill increases criminal penalties for carrying a stolen firearm while committing a violent crime.

Now the penalty for a first conviction would be a prison term of between five and 15 years, compared to the five to ten years under current law. The legislation also makes it a crime for anyone to knowingly possess a stolen firearm. Violators would face a felony charge of three to fifteen years in prison.

Last week, the governor signed legislation creating a task force to look at ways the state can revise its firearms and behavioral health laws.

Richard said Moms Demand Action intends to push again next year for Rhode Island to ban semi-automatic, assault-style weapons and other gun control measures.

"Mothers, fathers, grandparents and concerned citizens in Rhode Island are not going away on this issue and are more motivated now after seeing the failures of this legislative session," she said. "We know it's a long haul, but we're confident that Rhode Island will soon have common sense gun legislation that is at a minimum, comparable to its nearby states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York."

[neverdem]

RI got lucky!

[struggle]

[Sender]

common sense gun legislation

Everyone immediately puckers up and checks their six when this term is used.

[from occupied ga]

The face of the enemy. Another attempt to revive the thousand mom march by what appears to be a democratic activist.

[expat2]

She still insists that a semi-automatic rifle is a 'military-grade weapon'.

It seems that the libs are mostscared of:
1. Rifles that can shoot effectively over more than 100yds,
2. Activists like those in the Tea Party,
3. Strong conservative women who might siphon of the women's vote,
4. Strong conservative blacks who might siphon off the votes from the inhabitants of their urban 'planations'.

[expat2]

She still insists that a semi-automatic rifle is a 'military-grade weapon'.

It seems that the libs are most scared of:
1. Rifles that can shoot effectively over more than 100yds,
2. Activists like those in the Tea Party,
3. Strong conservative women who might siphon of the women's vote,
4. Strong conservative blacks who might siphon off the votes from the inhabitants of their urban 'plantations'.