Generally, when you hear about guns it is on the news and involves a terrible crime or tragedy. Nobody is more against gun violence than a gun owner. First is the sadness we feel for the families going through a tragedy, the relentless victimization by the anti-weapons movement of the victim and the families who use it to advance their agenda, and then the onslaught of pointing and rhetoric, for which the gun owners are blamed for a crime they did not commit.
Countless hours and billions of dollars are spent on “common sense” in the name of gun reform every year. This has become a lucrative full-time business for stakeholders across the country, and Rhode Island is no exception. Over $ 1.3 million has been brought to Rhode Island in the past two years by Everytown, Bloomberg, Giffords PAC, Planned Parenthood, and other elite millionaires who have pledged to take guns away in the guise of safety for our own good directed.
Rhode Island ranks seventh in the nation for gun laws. We no longer need gun laws, we need enforcement in court. These laws are unconstitutional and will do nothing to stop criminals.
According to a public record request, only 209 gun cases were assigned in court in 2020 and 161 cases were disposed of. Court records show that most of the charges were heard. Only two people were sentenced to more than 10 years.
The proposed legislation proposes tougher penalties for law-abiding citizens than for criminals. This legislation will empower the criminals and punish the voters. Minority communities will be hardest hit by the new crimes as they are more likely to be charged with these crimes without the means to defend themselves. Most violent criminals are repeat offenders.
This is overlooked.
There are more gun owners in Rhode Island than people think, and that number is growing. In the past five years, 155,362 new firearms have been purchased in the state of Rhode Island in the past five years, according to the FBI website … 40% of these were first-time buyers, 40% new buyers were women, and 58% were African American. The second amendment does not discriminate against race, gender, or diversity.
Gun owners are mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers and sisters. They are all genders, ethnicities, rich, poor, from every city. We are hard workers, workers and employees, retirees and veterans.
Gun owners are a valuable asset to Rhode Island. Millions of dollars flow into Rhode Island from the 10% to 11% excise tax on firearms, ammunition and accessories. Our state has at least 130 companies dependent on the firearms industry, which employs over 600 people and generates labor tax, sales tax, property and fire tax revenues. Manufacturers, Plates, Gun Stores, Public Areas, Sports Stores, Canned Foods, and Tourism. A 2019 study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation found that gun owners in Rhode Island generated $ 134,871,000 for the local economy.
The money gun owners generate benefits all Rhode Islanders. The money will fund land acquisitions that have brought Rhode Island to 60,000 acres of open space and 25 wildlife sanctuaries, all of which we enjoy for hiking, bird watching, mountain biking, geocaching, and horseback riding. With the help of these funds, 202 boat ramps were built for anglers and boaters. Many gun owners belong to gun clubs that also have several hundred hectares of land. These clubs are committed to the environment and work with the State Department of Environmental Management and the Conservation Service on conservation programs. As of 2018, US $ 11,668,415 has been earmarked for conservation programs such as duck population, wildlife restoration, coyote ecology, deer population monitoring, habitat protection, wildlife habitat restoration, and the Spent research on aquatic mammals, to name a few.
The firearms community is committed to helping our youth learn the importance of safety, responsibility and the environment by offering them scholarships, internships and competitions, including the Junior Olympic Championships.
Hope this makes known the worth of gun owners in Rhode Island.
The author is the president of the Federated Rhode Island Sportsmen’s Club, the secretary and lobbyist of the Rhode Island Revolver and Rifle Association, and the president of the Ocean State Junior Rifle Association.