In a decision that caught little national attention but has big implications, Rhode Island lawmakers quietly passed Senate Bill 0359, a new assault weapons ban. According to a June 23 report by WPRI 12 News’s Sarah Bawden, the scaled-back legislation made its way through both chambers of the state legislature and now waits on Governor Dan McKee’s desk for signature. The governor has already confirmed he will sign the bill into law.
This version of the ban limits the sale, manufacture, transfer, and purchase of certain firearms but does not ban their possession. The absence of a possession clause was a compromise that helped move the bill forward without as much public backlash or legal resistance. But for many, it still marks the beginning of what they see as creeping civilian disarmament.
A Softer Bill, But the Impact Is Still Huge
State Senator Lou DiPalma, who sponsored the Senate version, made significant changes to soften the bill from its original form. As WPRI notes, the House version, sponsored by Rep. Jason Knight, initially included a mandate for gun owners to register grandfathered weapons. That idea was stripped out after it proved too politically risky.
Melissa Carden, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, told WPRI she was “disappointed” that the final version did not include a ban on possession. “The world of these types of dangerous weapons does become smaller in a way,” she said, “but it’s important to ban both sales and possession.”
Governor McKee Says He’s “Proud” to Sign It
Governor Dan McKee, a Democrat, praised the bill as a victory for community safety. He highlighted its inclusion in his state budget and said it represented progress on “common sense” gun safety. In a statement quoted by both WPRI and The Reload, McKee said, “I’m proud that Rhode Island took an important step forward in protecting our communities from gun violence.”
There’s no doubt McKee sees this as a political win, and given the muted opposition, he might be right – at least for now. But critics argue the law won’t make communities safer and may do more damage than good.
The Reload Confirms: Rhode Island Joins the Ban-Wave
As The Reload’s Jake Fogleman reports, Rhode Island is now the 11th state to pass an assault weapons ban. Between 2000 and 2022, that number remained unchanged at seven states plus Washington, D.C. In just the last three years, four more have joined the list.
Fogleman writes that the new law bans semi-automatic rifles and shotguns with detachable magazines and one or more cosmetic or ergonomic features, like pistol grips, folding stocks, threaded barrels, or bayonet lugs. These are the same features often targeted in similar bans across the country.
It’s worth noting that these so-called “features” don’t make a firearm more dangerous in terms of rate of fire or caliber. They just make the firearm more comfortable to use. Yet, lawmakers continue to treat them like military-grade attachments.
Gun Rights Groups Say It’s Flat-Out Unconstitutional
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), quoted by The Reload, blasted the law as a blatant violation of the Second Amendment. NSSF’s Mark Oliva said, “There are over 30 million of these rifles in circulation today, more than there are Ford F-150s on the road.” He called them “commonly-owned” and “commonly-used” for self-defense, sport, and hunting.
That point, common use, is critical in constitutional challenges. Under current Supreme Court precedent from District of Columbia v. Heller and Bruen, firearms in “common use” for lawful purposes are protected.
But as Fogleman points out, lawsuits against these bans have largely failed in court so far. Even though Justice Brett Kavanaugh recently suggested the Supreme Court would likely review the legality of AR-15 bans “in the next Term or two,” the Court has still avoided the issue directly.
Washington Gun Law Breaks Down the Real-World Impact
Attorney William Kirk, president of Washington Gun Law, went even further in a video posted after the bill passed. He warned Rhode Island residents: “Welcome to the gates of hell.” In Kirk’s view, this is just another step in a growing pattern of “civilian disarmament.”
Kirk compared Rhode Island’s bill to the one passed in Washington State. He said both share the same strategy – ban commercial sales while leaving current owners alone, at least for now. The result, he argued, is a slow choke on the Second Amendment without triggering a massive legal battle.
“It’s like taking five aisles out of a grocery store and still expecting it to survive,” he said. According to Kirk, many small family-owned gun shops (FFLs) won’t survive the loss of revenue from selling the most popular types of firearms.
No Registration, But Still a Criminal Offense
Unlike the original House bill, Senate Bill 0359 does not require owners to register their firearms. That might seem like a small win, but the penalties for violating the ban are severe.
As Kirk noted in his analysis, anyone caught selling or transferring a prohibited weapon could face up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. That makes Rhode Island’s law one of the strictest in terms of punishment, even if it avoids targeting possession.
The law officially goes into effect on July 1, 2026. That gives residents about a year to prepare, stock up, or leave the state.
A Chilling Effect on the Firearm Industry
Kirk also warned that the law’s ripple effects could gut Rhode Island’s firearm economy. Small shops, many already struggling under rising insurance and compliance costs, will be forced to cut staff or close.
His advice? “Support your local FFLs now – before it’s too late.” That doesn’t mean heading to big-box retailers like Bass Pro Shops. He emphasized helping local, independently owned gun stores – the same ones that have served their communities for decades.
A Bill That Barely Got Noticed
One of the most alarming aspects of this legislation is how quietly it passed. There were no massive protests, no front-page headlines, no fierce media debate. It simply moved through the process, reworded and restructured until it was palatable enough to pass.
House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi even said, “Our choices were to do nothing this year, or get a gun safety bill over the finish line.” That kind of thinking, get something done, even if it’s flawed, should raise red flags for every American.
A Quiet Victory for Gun Control
What’s fascinating, and honestly a bit terrifying, is how smooth and uneventful the whole process was. Gun control activists like John Feinblatt of Everytown for Gun Safety praised the bill, saying it shows “progress is still possible.”
But from a constitutional and cultural perspective, this is something far bigger. It shows that without strong public opposition or judicial intervention, state governments can, and will, chip away at fundamental rights quietly, piece by piece.
When Laws Pass Without a Fight, It Should Worry Us
It’s one thing to debate a controversial law in the public square. It’s another thing entirely when that law passes almost unnoticed. Rhode Island’s new assault weapons ban didn’t face riots, lawsuits (yet), or even major backlash.
That silence is dangerous. Because it shows just how easily something so drastic can happen when people aren’t paying attention. If you believe in civil liberties, it doesn’t matter whether you’re pro-gun or not. You should care when a right can be redefined with the stroke of a pen, and hardly anyone says a word.
Stock Up, Speak Out, Stay Vigilant
Senate Bill 0359 is set to become law in Rhode Island. And while it may not seize guns from existing owners, it will restrict access for future generations. It’s not the end of the Second Amendment, but it’s another dent – one of many in recent years.
Let this be a wake-up call. Not just for Rhode Island, but for every American who still believes rights are worth defending.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.