PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed an assault weapons ban on Thursday.

The Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 would prohibit the manufacture, purchase, sale, transfer, and possession of certain “assault weapons,” including certain types of semi-automatic shotguns, rifles and pistols, and would levy criminal penalties for anyone convicted of violating the ban.

The measure passed in a 43-28 vote after an amendment was added that more precisely defined the types of weapons that would be banned, as well as removing the requirement to register weapons that would be grandfathered in.

Rep. Jason Knight, who sponsored the bill in the House, said its goal was to “end the proliferation of powerful weapons that enable mass shooters to kill as many victims as

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