Rhode Island Becomes Latest State To Pass New Gun Laws After Parkland

Rhode Island on Friday became the latest state to join a nationwide push to strengthen gun laws, with new measures to ban bump stocks and give law enforcement additional power to temporarily seize guns from individuals determined to be an imminent danger to themselves or others. In a bill signing event at the Rhode Island State House, Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) thanked lawmakers and volunteers with gun violence prevention organizations who were in attendance. “Because of you and your efforts, Rhode Island will be safer,” Raimondo said. “There’s no question that we need these laws, there’s no question that it’s common sense and there’s no question that it will make us safer.” On Thursday, the state’s General Assembly gave overwhelming final approval to the pair of bills, sending them to Raimondo. Lawmakers have characterized the legislation as a necessary response to horrific mass shooting events over the past year. The push began after an attack on a country music festival in Las Vegas in October, in which a gunman killed 58 people and injured hundreds more using rifles equipped with bump stocks ― accessories that allow semiautomatic firearms to simulate automatic fire. Once the bump stock ban legislation goes into effect, anyone in possession of a bump stock or similar device will have 90 days to sell, destroy or “otherwise remove these items from the state.” Possession will carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, or a fine of up to $10,000. Paul Morigi via Getty […]

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