R.I. Governor Sneaks AWB In Proposed Budget

What do you do when you’re the chief government of a state and also you need to ban so-called “assault weapons,” however you’ve by no means managed to get the legislature to do your soiled give you the results you want? For those who’re the governor of Rhode Island, you attempt to get such a ban by extra backdoor means.

In response to an alert from Gun House owners of America (GOA), Rhode Island Democrat Gov. Daniel McKee just lately inserted funding for a ban on many widespread semi-automatic firearms into his just lately launched FY 2026 finances proposal, inflicting alarm for Ocean State gun house owners.

Together with possession of such weapons, the ban would prohibit the longer term possession, buy, sale, management and manufacture of many generally owned firearms utilized by lawful Rhode Islanders legally and safely on daily basis. 

In his deal with in regards to the new proposed finances, McKee instantly addressed the proposal, even mentioning his failure to get such a regulation handed by means of the legislature.

“12 months after yr I’ve stood right here and requested the Common Meeting to ship an assault weapons ban to my desk,” McKee mentioned. “This yr, I’m sending you a finances to the Common Meeting for the primary time (that) will embrace a ban on assault weapons. Let’s lastly get this completed.”

Underneath the header “Selling Well being and Wellness Throughout Rhode Island,” McKee’s finances states: “Proposing an assault weapon ban to ban the longer term possession, buy, sale, management, and manufacture of assault weapons. Moreover, the finances features a gross sales tax exemption for gun security items, reminiscent of lock packing containers and safes.”

As GOA identified within the alert, states like California, Maryland and New York have handed such legal guidelines, with no ensuing drop in crime.

“Each single one among these states has carried out an ‘assault weapons’ ban, but none of them have seen a lower in violence,” the alert said. “These bans merely don’t work. As a substitute, what they accomplish is stripping regular, law-abiding gun house owners of their rights and skill to defend themselves whereas failing to cease violent criminals who defy such bans anyway.”

Additionally within the alert, GOA mentioned that Gov. McKee’s proposal instantly infringes on the Second Modification proper of law-abiding residents, together with fully defying the crucial U.S. Supreme Courtroom rulings in Heller, McDonald and, in fact, most just lately Bruen.

“Now’s the time to ship a message to the Meeting and the Governor that your constitutional rights matter,” GOA wrote. “Inform your state legislator and Gov. McKee NO to an ‘assault weapons’ ban.”