Rhode Island's House Judiciary Committee has passed a ban on assault-style weapons.
The 12-to-6 vote means the bill will now be sent to the full House for a floor vote on Thursday.
Under the measure it will be illegal to sell, manufacture, or possess assault-style weapons and certain semi-automatic shotguns, rifles and pistols after July 1st of 2026.
“Uvalde, Parkland, Las Vegas, the Pulse nightclub, Newtown, Aurora — in all of our nation’s deadliest mass shootings, the tool that enabled the perpetrator to kill so many victims was an assault weapon. They are preferred weapon of mass shooters because their sole purpose is to vastly increase the magnitude of death and destruction their user can inflict. We don’t need them here in Rhode Island,” said Representative Knight. “I am grateful to the many people who, year after year, have worked hard and shown up to advocate for this bill, which has evolved through study, collaboration and listening over all that time. I urge my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee and in the House and Senate to support its passage this year.”
If the bill passes in the House, it will be sent to a Senate committee for consideration.
(Photo: Rhode Island House of Representatives)