2013 -- S 0863

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LC02367

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A TASK FORCE ON FIREARMS STATUTES TO REVIEW, AND MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, REVISING THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK RELATING

TO FIREARMS

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Jabour, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: April 11, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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     WHEREAS, Many of the current laws enacted in our State relating to firearms have not

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been reviewed for decades, and though various governmental stakeholders have come together

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during the 2013 legislative session to propose ways to strengthen these laws, the General

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Assembly believes that it is appropriate to conduct a comprehensive review of the overarching

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statutory framework for these laws; and

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     WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the citizens of Rhode Island to convene a task

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force composed of representatives from the legislative and executive branches of government to

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conduct a review of current law, and make recommendations on the statutory framework relating

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to responsible gun ownership, on the one hand, and crimes involving firearms, on the other hand;

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now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Firearms Statutes (hereinafter referred to as the

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"Task Force") shall consist of the following members (it being understood that each member of

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the Task Force may appoint a designee to attend Task Force meetings in his/her absence, and a

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quorum of the Task Force shall consist of a majority of its current membership):

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     (1) Three (3) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the

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House, not more than two (2) from the same political party;

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     (2) Three (3) members of the Senate appointed by the President, not more than two (2)

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from the same political party;

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     (3) Two (2) members selected by the Governor;

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     (4) Attorney General;

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     (5) Director of the Department of Public Safety; and

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     (6) Director of the Department of Environmental Management; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Representative appointed from the political party of the Speaker

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of the House and the Senator appointed from the political party of the President of the Senate

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shall call the first meeting of the Task Force, and the members of the Task Force shall, at their

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first meeting, elect a Chairperson, a Secretary, and any other officers they may find necessary;

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and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall assemble no less than two (2) times per month,

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or more often at the call of the Chairperson or upon petition of a majority of its members; and be

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it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall review chapter 11-47 of the Rhode Island

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General Laws entitled "Weapons" and make recommendations to revise such chapter consistent

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with this Joint Resolution which shall include, at a minimum, legislative proposals that

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structurally differentiate between: (1) Purchases and ownership of firearms and ammunition; and

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(2) Crimes involving firearms and ammunition ; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall transmit such recommendations to the Governor,

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the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on or before January 1, 2014; and be it

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further

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     RESOLVED, That before transmitting such recommendations to the Governor, the

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Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, the Task Force shall have conferred with

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the Behavioral Health and Firearms Task Force to ensure that their proposed recommendations

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for revising the Rhode Island General Laws do not conflict; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the President of the Senate and

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the Speaker of the House.

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LC02367

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