How US Dept. Of Justice Scrutiny Could Change the Fight
INTRODUCTION
If Washington Looks at Rhode Island: How DOJ Scrutiny Could Change the Fight There is no public federal action against Rhode Island’s gun laws today. The Department of Justice has not announced an investigation into the state, filed suit against Rhode Island, or…
Michael Guilmain
Why Rhode Island May Win Locally but Lose Nationally
INTRODUCTION
Rhode Island’s recent gun laws may survive the first rounds in local federal court. That does not mean they are secure. The state’s strongest short term advantage is geography. Rhode Island sits inside the First Circuit, and the First Circuit has already allowed the…
How Bruen Became Means Testing in Rhode Island
INTRODUCTION
The United States Supreme Court told lower courts that the Second Amendment could not be balanced away by modern policy preferences. In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, the Court rejected the old practice of asking whether a gun law seemed reasonable, useful,…
How They Are Already Standing on Shaky Ground
INTRODUCTION
The 2026 gun bills now before the Rhode Island General Assembly did not appear out of nowhere. They are the next step in a recent pattern. Over the last several years, Rhode Island has banned future sales and transfers of certain semiautomatic firearms, imposed new firearm…
A New Push to Block Access, Possession, and Ownership
INTRODUCTION
Rhode Island lawmakers are not simply debating whether to punish criminal misuse of firearms. Several of the 2026 gun bills now before the General Assembly would reach ordinary acquisition, ammunition access, training, insurance, continued possession, and the businesses that make lawful ownership practical. This…
Why Gun Rights Cannot Be Reduced to Paper Rights
INTRODUCTION
Rhode Island’s gun debate is usually argued as a matter of policy. Supporters of new restrictions say the laws are needed for public safety. Opponents say the bills punish lawful citizens while doing little to stop criminals. But underneath that political fight is a legal…
Peter Neronha Turned a Gun Crimes Report into a Political Ad
Peter Neronha’s 2025 Gun Crimes Report does not read like a sober public accounting. It opens by invoking two horrific shootings, says the trauma “cannot be quantified,” dismisses whether gun crimes rose or fell as “almost a moot point,” and then pivots straight into…
Why Voting Still Matters in Rhode Island
One of the most common things people say about politics is that one vote does not matter, especially in heavily Democratic states like ours. Rhode Island election results show a different story, however.
In many legislative races, the margin between winning and losing is very small. In 2022,…
Rally days can feel like a lot if you have never been to one. The goal of this post is to make it simple so you know when to show up, where to park, what happens when you walk in, and how the testimony process usually works. On our biggest days, we ask people to…
Everytown / Moms Demand Action
are in bed with the RI General Assembly
If passed, bills H7755 and S2726 will make it harder for ordinary people to buy firearms by replacing the current blue card system with a broader state controlled requirement covering rifles, shotguns, pistols, and revolvers. The bills require an attorney general…
Alert Notification
Important Notice to VA Beneficiaries, Military Retirees, and Active Duty Service Members We want to make our community aware of a recent VA disability policy issue that drew significant concern. In February 2026, the Department of Veterans Affairs issued a rule that would have changed how some service connected disabilities are rated when…
Speaking at the State House can feel intimidating, especially when your testimony is limited to two minutes. The good news is that with a clear structure, basic research, and a little rehearsal, two minutes is enough time to make a meaningful impact. In committee hearings, public testimony is generally allowed on the bills on the…