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Burrillville council reaffirms Second Amendment sanctuary stance, adopts resolution opposing proposed state gun-control bills
Summary
The council adopted a resolution reaffirming its 2019 declaration as a Second Amendment sanctuary and opposing several gun‑control bills pending in the Rhode Island General Assembly; the meeting drew many supporters of legal gun ownership to speak in favor of the measure.
The Burrillville Town Council voted to reaffirm its 2019 declaration as a Second Amendment sanctuary and adopted a resolution opposing a package of proposed state gun-control bills, including proposals framed by sponsors as an assault‑weapons ban.
Council leaders said the resolution would be forwarded to state legislators, the governor and other officials. The resolution cites U.S. Supreme Court precedents, Rhode Island constitutional language, and existing state law that prohibits government lists or registers of privately owned firearms and their owners.
Public comment was strongly in favor of protecting gun rights. Shane Bridal, who said he holds a carry permit and is a former U.S. Marine, said he moved back to Burrillville partly because of the town’s stance: “If we lose the Second Amendment you will lose all other right to any other amendment,” he said. Several other residents and members of the Wallum Lake Rifle and Gun Club described volunteer-run hunter-safety, junior-marksmanship and community programs and urged the council to oppose legislation they said would criminalize common firearms used for sport and hunting.
Supporters and several council members argued that statewide proposals were overly broad and would impose unfunded costs on municipalities for storing surrendered or seized firearms if registration or storage requirements were enacted.
The adopted resolution declares that the council “finds and declares that these gun restriction bills…infringe upon the rights of the people of the town of Burrillville” and states the council will not appropriate local funds for capital construction or storage systems required to enforce such laws, should the General Assembly enact them.
Ending: The council will forward the resolution to state officials and urged residents who oppose the pending legislation to testify at the General Assembly. Several council members encouraged constituents to attend legislative hearings and provide testimony.
