Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Patch sat down with local attorney to evaluate a gun registration bill that would require Rhode Island gun owners to register their weapons with police and pay a $100 registration fee.
Editor’s Note: State Rep Linda Finn (D-Middletown, Portsmouth) introduced legislation (2013-H 5573) in February that would require Rhode Island gun owners to register their weapons with local police or the state police and pay a $100 registration fee. Many Patch readers expressed concerns about the constitutionality of the proposal. We sat down with Newport attorney Kevin Hagan to review the bill from a constitutional perspective, and help sort out fact from fiction. Hagan has taught Law and Society at CCRI in Newport, that includes coursework on the Second Amendment. Patch: Some readers said there was a difference between rights and privileges. For example, one reader said that that owning a car is a privilege, which can be subjected to…
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Smithfield Rep. Brian Newberry said Rhode Island should welcome jobs from gun manufacturers.
House Minority Leader Rep. Brian C. Newberry is urging Connecticut and Maryland-based gun manufacturers to relocate to Rhode Island on the heels of legislation impacting the firearms industry in those states. Newberry told the Providence Journal Tuesday Rhode Island should welcome firearms manufacturers and the jobs that would accompany a relocation. In a statement on Monday, Newberry urged Colt's Manufacturing, a West Hartford Connecticut firearms manufacturer, to consider the ocean state for its future operations. "Rhode Island, like other states, has significant firearms regulation on its books, but our approach so far has been sensible and responsible, and respectful of the rights of gun owners as well as the community at large," said…
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
In a letter to the editor, Finn address the concern and criticism of the gun registration bill introduced last month.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Tuesday, March 26
[editor's note: The following letter was submitted by Rep. Linda Finn (D- Middletown, Portsmouth) regarding the gun registration bill, 5573, that would require gun owners to register their weapons with local police. The controversial proposal drew hundreds to the State House last month to speak up against the bill.] I have received many responses from concerned citizens, both gun owning and not. I would like to clarify a couple of items and respond to some of the criticism of the bill. Please remember that at this point, this bill is still only a proposal. In order for it to become law, a House committee must first hear it. That hearing before the House Judiciary Committee is open to all to testify about their opinions. No date …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
A statement by Rep. Linda Finn that said Rhode Island keeps a registry of campers but not guns was classified as "mostly true" by Politifact Rhode Island
“Currently, there’s no way to know who has weapons in Rhode Island. We don’t keep records on anything, we don’t require licenses and we don’t register guns. Rhode Island could tell you who has a camper, but we couldn’t figure out who has a gun.” - Rep. Linda Finn (D-Dist. 72, Middletown, Portsmouth) How accurate is the quote in bold? According to Politifact Rhode Island, it is "mostly true," which by their definition means the statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information. Finn's gun registration bill (2013-H 5573) would require gun-owners to register their weapon with their local police. Failure to do so would result in up to three years in prison and fines of up to $3,000. Similar to other gun control …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
State Rep. Dennis Canario is opposing legislation introduced by a fellow state legislator.
State Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton), a retired Portsmouth police officer, is speaking out against newly-introduced legislation which would require gun owners to register their weapons with local police departments. State Rep. Linda Finn (D-Dist. 72, Middletown and Portsmouth) introduced the legislation (2013-H 5573) in response to the Newtown, CT, shootings, which is considered one of the worst school shootings in recent U.S. history. Under Finn's legislation, anyone who possesses a firearm would be required to register the gun with local police for a $100 fee. Failure to do so would result in up to three years in prison and fines of up to $3,000. Rep. Canario released the following …
Friday, March 1, 2013
Hundreds of gun rights advocates gathered at the State House protesting legislation introduced by Rep. Linda Finn of Middletown that would require gun owners to register with local police departments.
Several hundred gun advocates showed up at the State House on Thursday afternoon to oppose a gun registration bill that would require all gun owners to rregister with their local police department. Under the legislation (2013-H 5573), anyone who possesses a firearm would be required to register the gun with local police and pay a $100 fee. Failure to do so would result in up to three years in prison and fines of up to $3,000. Rhode Island does not currently require registration or licensing for gun ownership. Rep. Linda Finn (D-Middletown) introduced the legislation. “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 State Rep. Doreen Costa…
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The proposed legislation would require anyone who possesses a firearm to register the gun with their local police
Rep. Linda Finn (D-Dist. 72, Middletown, Portsmouth) has introduced legislation aimed at enabling police to better track guns in their communities. The legislation would require gun owners to register their weapons with their local police or the state police, and allow police to keep copies of applications for gun purchases sent to them for background checks. “It’s surprising that Rhode Island doesn’t already do this," said Finn. "Our current law requires background checks, a seven-day waiting period and applications for anyone who wants to buy a gun, but actually requires police to destroy the record of the application afterward." Under the legislation (2013-H 5573), anyone who possesses a firearm would be required to register the gun …
Monday, December 31, 2012
If you are licensed to own a gun, would you want your name and address publicized?
- NEWS
-
Monday, December 31, 2012
A news publication in New York is under scrutiny for publishing the names and addresses of gun owners in certain parts of the state. Less than two weeks after the tragic shooting in Newtown, Conn., the New York Journal News earlier this week published the names and addresses of local gun owners in three New York counties. A story titled, "The gun owner next door: What you don't know about the weapons in your neighborhood," highlights the names and addresses of residents who are licensed to own handguns through Freedom of Information Law requests, according to The Huffington Post. The Journal News reportedly requested the information from New York's Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, though the publication was only able to …
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Wayne LaPierre, head of the National Rifle Association (NRA) appeared on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday
- GOVERNMENT
-
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Last Sunday morning Wayne LaPierre, head of the National Rifle Association (NRA) appeared on NBC's Meet the Press to defend his controversial call to put put armed police officers in our nations schools. “If it’s crazy to call for putting police in and securing our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy,” LaPierre told NBC’s David Gregory. The New York Post called LaPierre a "gun nut" and "NRA loon” on its Saturday’s cover. LaPierre first urged Congress to act on Friday morning, which was the the one week anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Conn. "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," he said on Friday. Local residents had mixed reactions to the NRA's call for …
Jared Neirinckx
9:59 am on Thursday, April 11, 2013
Great job with factual information and clear, non- opinionated discussion. We as Rhode Islanders need to be proactive in approach when applicable, not reactive. As a hunter and sportsman I can only hope our representatives in government have the same discipline. more ›