NORTH SMITHFIELD – Councilors David Punchak and John Beauregard have joined forces to sponsor a resolution in opposition to the General Assembly’s proposed assault weapons ban, in a move that follows suit with 15 other Rhode Island cities and towns.
The resolution, shared this week with NRI NOW, states that in Rhode Island, “the limited gun violence that does exist is not from law abiding citizens who own firearms, but from criminals who pay no attention to any existing or proposed laws.”
“It naturally follows that any bills restricting the rights of firearm owners will have no impact on the criminal element responsible for gun violence,” the resolution notes.
Modeled after similar text passed by the Lincoln Town Council in March, the proposal comes in reaction to legislation passed in the House last week that would establish the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025, as well as other bills that aim to further restrict firearms in the state.
“These bills not only penalize law abiding citizens from exercising their Constitutional right for owning a firearm, but they also damage federally licensed firearms dealers, who are Rhode Island business owners,” the proposal notes. “They would most certainly restrict their sales and livelihood.”
Beauregard and Punchak submitted the resolution to be taken up as an agenda item for discussion and potential vote at the Town Council meeting scheduled for Monday, June 16.
Beauregard said he crafted the resolution after hearing from many constituents.
“I got quite a few phone calls on this,” he said. “I think they’re taking away our rights a little at a time. I’m not a big gun guy, but when they make these laws, they only affect the law-abiding citizens They’re disarming the general public and leaving them as victims of the bad guys.”
“In a perfect world, it would be great if there were no guns, but right now too many bad guys have them,” Beauregard added.
North Smithfield’s proposed resolution in opposition to the law notes that a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Gun Violence Solutions report found that Rhode Island had the lowest overall gun death rate and gun suicide rate in the country in 2022. It also states that the bill amounts to an unfunded state mandate, and that “the Town Council of the town of North Smithfield will not appropriate funds for capital construction of building space and/or the purchase of storage systems to store weapons seized, pursuant to any requirements set forth in the legislation if enacted by the General Assembly for the purpose of enforcing any law, that unconstitutionally infringes upon the rights of the People of the town of North Smithfield to keep and bear arms.”
If passed, the town’s resolution would be forwarded to every Rhode Island municipality, state senators, state representatives, the governor and the lieutenant governor requesting their support.
The state legislation banning assault weapons is now headed to the Senate with a possible vote expected in the coming days.
Kudos for members to bring this motion to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and Citizens GOD given Rights to Keep and bear arms. The proposed state bill is radical and irresponsible which contradicts real world statistics as to what type of weapons are overwhelmingly likely to be used to maim injure or kill. Acting punitively to those who follow the rules and are responsible and to ignore those criminals (ie those who commit crimes and by definition DO NOT FOLLOW LAWS!) is imbecilic. Speaking of which , comparing muskets (military rifles of their time) and to imply that the Right doesn’t follow travel to modern firearms is like saying freedom of speech is written and spoken is limited to in person and quill and parchment as of the time of its passing, and doesn’t cover modern modes of communication video, internet social media or other electronic communication . An “AR” is an Armalite Rifle NOT an Assault rifle which is a completely fabricated lie. It is also NOT a weapon of war and is owned and responsibly used by millions of American citizens daily. Continuing on the imbecile train, to compare a prima Donna social activist to use his nfl celebrity to attack the rule of law and those who pack the gear to enforce it , to the God Given Rights enumerated in the Constitution is clearly absurd. As a proud active duty veteran and having served our Country and Community for over three decades, I resent those that claim to know what veterans think, because you don’t. I applaud any family or friends you may keep that are veterans, and their service, but that is not you. So you may read more books but some of us , but some of us have picked up more real weapons of war and willingly put ourselves in harms way more times than we care to or want to remember, to have our fellow citizens rights stripped away in front of our eyes. We made an irrevocable oath to our God, our Country, and our Constitution and defend it against those who would threaten it. There truly something to be said to the old adage “Only tyrants and dictators fear honest armed citizens.” By all means if you choose not to enjoy the 2nd Amendment, God bless you, but don’t you dare impose revoking other citizens Rights with the reckless indifference of a toddler with a straight razor.
What kind of world do we live in our American Culture when support of God given Rights in place since the inception of this republic have become punk rock!? Congratulations it has.
It is a ludicrous bill, and only helps the criminals!
I hope this resolution passes, it shouldn’t matter the sponsors!
No matter which side of this issue you are on, it will pass due to Clare O’Hara’s go along to get along policy. Maybe we will be blessed with a few stories of how people were nicer in her younger years if we are lucky. Let’s be honest and call her a shill. It’s proven.
This should pass 5-0.
The right to bare arms was not created after a rabbit hunting trip, it was added after they finished a rebellion and secured the right to govern themselves through the Revolutionary war. The intent was clear as a bell and any who claim we should not have weapons of war are fools who refuse to see what our forefather’s expected of us. The Founding Fathers saw the right to bear arms as a safeguard for liberty, enabling citizens to defend themselves and, if necessary, resist tyranny. This ties directly to their belief in a government that derives its power from the consent of the governed, where the people retain the ultimate authority to check or reform their government. The Second Amendment and the principles in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution reflect these ideas, emphasizing both individual rights and collective responsibility.
We certainly have the right to bare arms. I’m not disputing that: I’m as big a fan of tank-tops as the next person.
When it comes to what the Founders expected of us, you conveniently leave out that our form of government is a representative democracy. That means most decisions ought to be made by elected representatives of the people. Your view seems to be that decisions about how to deal with AR-15s were made in the late 1700s and cannot be altered except by amending the Constitution. That seems really silly to me. I’d rather have debate and deliberation about the matter with my fellow citizens and arrive at a decision that way. If the resolution passes over my objection, fine…that’s democracy at work. The state legislature’s choice is also democracy at work. But the claim that the 2nd Amendment means we can’t decide for ourselves how to deal with AR-15s? That we have to accept whatever some judges say the 2nd Amendment means? No thanks.
Our government is a representative republic. We are not a democracy
It’s actually both a constitutional republic and a representative democracy
This will not stop the making of illegal ghost guns….
There is no constitutional right to own an AR-15. We are talking about weapons of war here, not handguns. I hope this resolution fails.
Amen. And the forefathers did not foresee the owning of assault weapons and ghost guns….
This is such a lame argument. Our forefather did also foresee Tanks, Nuclear Weapons, Drones and more. As the governments military might expanded why should a citizens right to bear arms not be expanded as well. I guess folks like you think we should only be allowed muskets. And no this is not a plea to be able to own a heavy military grade weapons.
Opponents don’t even think it through. They just follow their marching orders in order to remain in their “club”. No independent thought, no diversity of opinions.
Since Punchak sponsored this he’s now a Proud Boy, Oath Keeping MAGA mega Trumper according to Mary.
Hey Mary – I voted for Harris and I’m for this resolution, and I’m pro choice – what does that make me?? LOL
Have you even read the bill? It bans every firearm that accepts a magazine. It’s a ridiculous bill.
Any gun is and can be used for “assault”. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that at some point in time they will come for all the guns seeing they are “assault” weapons.
Regarding your lack of voting for David, he probably picked up a few hundred more votes here with this common sense resolution combined with now that you are against him lol. I’d say that’s a win!
Yeah, well Colin Kaepernick and Nike sunk JB, so don’t be so sure on that one.
Really ??? He seems to be doing well to me. Mary, I think you’re on the wrong side of this one, unfortunately.
If it was a specific make or exact caliber that would make more sense (not that I would agree) but at least that would be founded in some logic. Not some broad, ambiguous definition.
That’s like saying “we are going to ban all sharp knives”.
And at what point does the government stop? What’s next? We don’t “need” 6 or 8 cylinder vehicles? We don’t “need” 2,000 Sq. ft homes? Yes everyone agrees with common sense gun control, this is not it.
I don’t care how many constituents JB has heard from, the vast majority of gun owners believe in common sense gun laws. Owning and access to assault weapons is not a reflection of what the founding fathers had in mind regarding bearing arms. Regarding RI and gun safety, death can happen in any town, any school system, any public gathering, or your own home and one incident could place NS at the top of that John’s Hopkins list. John is not being left unprotected, nor is David, I assume. While I have never voted for John Beauregard, I have voted for David Punchak. He will never again get my vote.
If you think a war cant happen here youre an absolute buffoon who has never picked up a history book. Pathetic. Ask yourself why the Weimar republic’s strict gun laws didnt prevent Jews from dying to firing squads, matter of fact, when Hitler took power, all the Jewish gun owners were on a registry and they all ended up in extermination camps. You people arent the brightest, go calling Trump a dictator and Hitler and yet you willingly give up peoples firearms, whos going to defend you, your hopes and dreams? Wake up, fairyland isnt real.
I am quite sure, based on your writing that I have picked up far more history books than you. I expect that the people that will defend me will be those I know currently serving in the military. They will not be the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers. If you don’t think that Trump, Hitler or even Putin are not dictators, you should return to school
Elitist mentality – “I’ve read more books than you”.
Ever notice who is at these riots and protests nationwide? I swore I have seen you on the TV a few times either in LA or NYC!
Yes I am sure the fore fathers intentions were for everyone to have muskets indefinitely. On the contrary, these very smart men kept language broad as to not limit rights as weapon technology advanced.