PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island’s Senate approved a bill Wednesday to ban 3D-printed guns and so-called ghost guns that are untraceable.
The legislation was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Cynthia Coyne, of Barrington, who retired from the Rhode Island State Police as a lieutenant. She said these types of guns are meant to dodge legal safeguards that protect public safety and state law should be clear that possessing, creating or selling them is a criminal act.
The bill heads to the House. The House Judiciary Committee is considering companion legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Patricia Serpa, of West Warwick.
Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo supports banning 3D guns, but she wants lawmakers to go further. She’s calling for a ban on “military-style assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines, and a ban guns in schools — changes she views as essential for public safety. The Democratic leaders of the House and Senate are not convinced those changes are necessary, and similar proposals stalled last year.
The state Senate passed legislation in June to prohibit 3D guns, but it stalled in the House. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio wanted to pass it this year and co-sponsored Coyne’s bill.
