Disqualifies individuals with prior felony convictions or nolo contendere pleas from purchasing or possessing a firearm. It also prevents the sentencing judge from suspending the first two (2) years of any sentence under limited circumstances.

Rhode Island Senate Bill Summary

This bill would expand restrictions on who can legally buy or own a firearm in Rhode Island. Under current law, people convicted of certain crimes are already prohibited from having guns. This bill would add anyone who has previously been convicted of a felony — or who entered a "nolo contendere" plea (a legal term meaning a person doesn't admit guilt but accepts the punishment) — to the list of people who cannot purchase or possess a firearm. Essentially, if someone has a felony in their past, regardless of how or when it was resolved, they would be barred from gun ownership under this bill.

The bill also includes a sentencing provision. In certain limited situations, it would prevent a judge from suspending the first two years of a prison sentence for someone found guilty of violating these firearm restrictions. This means that in those specific cases, a person convicted under this law would be required to serve at least two years in prison, and a judge could not reduce or waive that portion of the sentence.

This legislation would primarily affect individuals with prior felony records who currently own or are seeking to purchase firearms, as well as judges whose sentencing discretion would be limited in these cases. Law enforcement and gun dealers would also be affected, as they would need to enforce the updated eligibility rules. The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it has been held for further study.