Johnston Police Chief Supports Gun Registration Bill

Johnston Police Chief Richard Tamburini said he supports a Rhode Island gun registration bill, according to the Johnston Sunrise.

The legislation (H5573) would require gun owners to register their weapons with local police departments or the state police and allow police to keep copies of applications for gun purchases sent to them for background checks. 

Tamburini said the legislation is “a work in progress" but he acknowledged it would only affect law-abiding citizen.

“The people who are not going to comply are the ones who affect the police officers,” Tamburini told the paper.

Not all law enforcement agree with the bill.

State Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D - Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton), a retired Portsmouth police officer spoke out against the legislation. 

"I believe that controls such as those proposed in the bill would set the wrong kind of precedent, serving only to punish the innocent majority of gun owners due to the actions of a criminal few," said Canario in a statement. 

Similar to other gun control measures across the country, Finn's bill has been met with controversy. Hundreds showed up at a demonstration at the State House, organized Rep. Doreen Costa (R - North Kingstown, Exeter).

“The most obvious flaw in this legislation is that it is entirely contrary to the language and spirit of federal firearms law, the Brady Bill," said Costa.

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act established a national system for checking the background of a prospective handgun purchaser in 1993.

What do you think? Do you think the bill would help police departments keep residents safer?