Bill Analysis
S2285 increases the penalties for carrying or possessing stolen firearms. It targets the criminal element that fuels Rhode Island’s gun violence without placing any new burden on lawful owners.
The Key Change
The bill raises penalties under § 11-47-3.1 (carrying a stolen firearm while committing a crime of violence) from a 5-to-15-year range to 10-to-20, with a mandatory 5-year minimum without parole. Second offenses rise from 20 to 25 years with a 10-year minimum, and third offenses rise from 20 to 25 years with a 15-year minimum. Section 11-47-5.2 (possession of a stolen firearm) rises from 3-to-15 years to 5-to-20, with a 3-year minimum for first offenders and a 10-year minimum for repeat offenders.
What It Means for Gun Owners
This bill holds criminals who steal and misuse firearms accountable with meaningful prison time. Lawful gun owners are not affected. Real public safety comes from prosecuting the criminals who actually commit violent acts with guns, not from restricting the rights of the law-abiding.
Rhode Island already has some of the strictest firearm laws in the country. Those laws do not stop criminals, who by definition ignore them. What does work is a credible threat of serious, predictable prison time for violent gun crime. S2285 delivers exactly that.
Penalties:
- § 11-47-3.1 first offense: 10 to 20 years, minimum 5 without parole
- § 11-47-3.1 second offense: up to 25 years, minimum 10 without parole
- § 11-47-3.1 third offense: up to 25 years, minimum 15 without parole
- § 11-47-5.2 first offense: 5 to 20 years, minimum 3 without parole
- § 11-47-5.2 repeat offense: minimum 10 without parole
Email and Petition
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Every submission both contacts the members of the Senate Judiciary and adds to a growing public petition and record of opposition.
2 Rhode Islanders have already taken action. Join them.