On April 8, 2026, Rhode Island state Rep. Teresa Tanzi, a Democrat, made a series of anti-gun remarks as she expressed her support for efforts to repeal a legislative grandfather clause and use “police power” to force AR-15 owners to dispose of their weapons. Reports first released in March detailed efforts by Rhode Island Democrats within the state’s legislature to remove the grandfather clause that was included in the “assault weapons” ban it passed last year.
The clause allowed individuals who own the now prohibited firearms to keep them in their possession. However, Democrats are now making moves to try and not only remove it from the legislation but to slap those who simply own the weapons with a prison sentence. The bill in question is known in the legislature as H8073.
Tanzi commented in favor of H8703, saying, “Last year, we as a body, banned the sale, manufacture, and transfer, of certain ‘assault weapons’ as defined in that law. That was an important step, but it was only a partial one. We should be honest about that. Right now our law draws an arbitrary line. We have said that these firearms cannot enter the marketplace going forward, but we continue to allow them to remain in circulation indefinitely.”
“If these weapons are too dangerous to be sold in Rhode Island, then we really should have addressed possession at the same time. We didn’t, and this bill [H8073] corrects that,” Tanzi continued. The state representative then explained that the bill will force those who currently own AR-15s “to come into compliance by selling or transferring them lawfully.”
Folks have raised concerns that forcing AR-15 owners to get rid of their rifles violates the 5th Amendment’s Taking Clause. She countered the argument by stating that the situation in Rhode Island is one in which a state is “exercising its police power” not “taking property for public use.” According to Breitbart News, if the bill becomes law, AR-15 owners could face a decade behind bars for refusing to comply with the mandate.
Users on social media platform X had strong opinions about the attempt at violating the Second Amendment rights of the people of Rhode Island. One user said, “I believe our great President Tump and his cabinet are working on solidifying and protecting all 2nd amendments rights for all so that states like this cannot infringe on our rights.”
Another individual said, “You have the RIGHT to bear arms. Anything that limits that right is NOT Constitutional. And should NOT be followed. Ever.” Someone else pointed out that the biggest cause of gun-related deaths is suicide, not crime. “The biggest driver of gun deaths in the U.S. isn’t crime. It’s suicide. Policy that ignores that…misses the problem.”
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Another person noted that it’s likely Tanzi has never held or used a gun, putting the blame for politicians like her coming up with stances like this on giving women the right to vote. “That woman has likely never held a gun, much less fired one. I blame the nineteenth amendment for many of the problems and failures of this country,” the individual wrote.