Rhode Island’s Gun Ban Goes Further — And It Should Concern Every Gun Owner

Rhode Island is attempting to pass gun confiscation

Rhode Island lawmakers are attempting to pass exactly what us pro-gun advocates have warned about. They are no longer just targeting the sale of firearms but coming after possession itself. If this latest proposal becomes law, it would mark one of the most aggressive gun control pushes in the country.

Lawmakers in Rhode Island are advancing SB 2710, a sweeping proposal that would ban possession of many commonly owned semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns.  These are firearms that millions of Americans and Rhode Islanders own for lawful purposes.

This bill goes far beyond regulating future sales. It does something that we have warned about many times. The mere banning of future sales is not enough for anti-gunners they will eventually come back around to confiscation. This is one of the things these lawmakers aren’t clearly explaining.

The bill is vague about what happens to currently owned firearms once they become illegal. That matters that they are cagey about that important point. It means they are aware of what their bill means and are trying to keep us in the dark. This bill can mean only one thing, confiscation.

These lawmakers understand that it is politically dangerous for them to advocate for that so they are trying to pass this in the shadows. They can accomplish this through forced surrender or mandatory transfers. The scariest outcome would be aggressive enforcement actions taken by law enforcement to remove these weapons from society. The concern is justified.

The “Sell Your Guns” Trap

Supporters of these laws often claim owners can simply “sell” affected firearms. But there are many issues with that statement. First, being forced to get rid of your own property is against the 4^th Amendment. In America we are a land of choices not mandates.

Second, by forcing someone to liquidate their property it will force them to receive less than initially paid for it. This kind of pressure would flood the market and drive prices down hurting the current owners of these items the most.

If a court was to afterwards strike down the law, those that had to give up their property once again lose as they have to spend more to reacquire it. The addition of all these new shoppers once again manipulates the market to higher prices and again results in Rhode Islanders being the ones hurt the most.

This is not even deal with the constitutional implications of this. This type of possession ban has little to no basis in United States law. The likelihood of something like this passing constitutional muster is dubious at best if not out right impossible. We just reported on the city of Chicago attempting to price firearm owners out of their rights and this law would have a similar effect.

This is not the only bill Rhode Island lawmakers are attempting to push on gun owners. They are also pushing another measure requiring gun owners to carry $1 million liability insurance policies. Let’s call this what it is, a financial barrier to constitutional rights.

Criminals will never meet this requirement, only those of us that are already no danger to the public. It is once again attempting to price regular Americans out of their ability to exercise their rights. This is a slippery slope that is starting to pop up in various states.

The Constitutional Issue

The Supreme Court has already ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that commonly owned firearms are protected under the Second Amendment. These bills show that lawmakers who are determined to advance disarmament do not care about your rights and will keep forging ahead.

We here at 2 If By Sea Tactical want you to exercise your rights. We here to help educate, inform, and sell you the tools you need to defend yourself, loved ones, and family. That is why this lesson is key, even if lawmakers know these laws may eventually be lost in court, the process IS the punishment.

Those pushing civilian disarmament know that even if they lose, they cost you and me our rights, and those who fight for our rights millions of dollars as litigation goes on. Because of this gun shops like ours suffer while courts play out a long and slow process.

While Rhode Island may be a small state, these types of bills often have national implications. If a model like this succeeds, we often see other states attempt to copy it. Look at what is happening here in Minnesota, we are going through similar bills that have passed in states like California.

The reason everyone should pay attention to this is it isn’t just about Rhode Island. This is a test on how far state governments think they can go towards civil disarmament. It is a test beyond just a ban on commonly owned firearms. It is about if beyond just bans on commerce, if they can ban possession itself.

That’s the real fight happening here. We know these things do not stop at one state line. They tend to go national as we see with the Virginia federal Senators. That is why each of these fights are important.

Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world.  As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube and Rumble channels and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance. We are proud to be Southern Minnesota source for all things 2A.

Stay sharp, stay informed, and stay ready.