Coventry council adopts resolution opposing proposed 2025 Rhode Island gun-control bills, reaffirms 'sanctuary' stance

The Coventry Town Council adopted a resolution opposing proposed Rhode Island gun-control legislation and reaffirming the town’s support for residents’ Second Amendment rights.

Sponsor Councilman Pasqua read the resolution to the council and prefaced the reading by stressing that the resolution is advisory and does not allow municipalities to override state law: “I want to be very clear that that's not what this is. No city or town has the right or ability to supersede state law,” he said. The resolution, numbered 2025-58 in the council packet, cites U.S. Supreme Court precedent (District of Columbia v. Heller; McDonald v. Chicago; United States v. Miller) and provisions of the Rhode Island Constitution (article 1, section 22 and article 1, section 6) to explain its legal framing.

The text states the council’s opposition to pending legislation identified in the resolution as House Bill 5436 and Senate Bill 359 (referred to in the packet as part of an “Assault Weapons” act). The resolution asserts that the council believes existing laws, if properly enforced, are sufficient to protect public safety and expresses concern that retroactive criminalization and mandatory registration would penalize law-abiding citizens. It calls for the town to “reaffirm its commitment to stand to the second amendment sanctuary, protecting the constitutional rights of its citizens from unjust overreaching and or unconstitutional firearm legislation,” and instructs that copies be forwarded to state lawmakers and the governor.

The council voted to approve the resolution; the clerk recorded five affirmative votes and no negatives. Councilman Brown moved the motion and Councilman Capaldi seconded it. Councilwoman Britney Boyer addressed the council during docketed public comment and urged members to vote yes, telling the council: “This isn't about politics. It's about principle. The second amendment to the constitution guarantees law abiding citizens the right to keep and bear arms.” Several other residents spoke in support during public comment.

The resolution instructs the town not to allocate municipal funds for construction, acquisition or maintenance of facilities intended to store firearms seized under any law later determined unconstitutional. The resolution is an expression of the council’s position and does not change state law or municipal enforcement obligations.