Rhode Island lawmakers are advancing a bill that would transform the state’s gun control policies from restricting future sales of assault weapons to criminalizing possession itself. This shift could turn many law-abiding firearm owners into potential felons.
House Bill 8073, introduced on February 27 and set for a House Judiciary hearing on April 8, seeks to amend existing law by adding “possess” to the prohibited acts list. Under the bill, no person would be allowed to “manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, possess, or purchase” a restricted firearm. Violations could result in up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $10,000, and forfeiture of the weapon.
While lawful owners might legally transfer firearms to federal dealers or individuals outside Rhode Island where possession is permitted, the bill provides no grandfather clause allowing current owners to retain their lawfully acquired guns. The proposal highlights a growing concern among gun rights advocates: once states establish authority over firearm sales, the next step often becomes outright possession bans. William Kirk of Washington Gun Law noted that Rhode Island’s measure confirms longstanding warnings from gun owners about this trajectory.
Constitutionally, such legislation risks undermining the Second Amendment. Critics argue that a state cannot compel citizens to surrender legally acquired firearms under threat of severe punishment. If enacted, HB 8073 would not merely regulate commerce but force residents to relinquish property through criminal penalties.