Chairman Joe Powers Calls Out General Assembly’s Assault Weapons Ban for What It Is: Unconstitutional, Un-American, and Unforgivable
Warwick, RI – The Rhode Island Republican Party is sounding the alarm after the Democrat-controlled General Assembly rammed through an Assault Weapons Ban — a blatant, unconstitutional attack on the rights of law-abiding Rhode Islanders.
“This is a disgrace,” said RI GOP Chairman Joe Powers. “Democrats in this state have abandoned the Constitution, abandoned the people, and embraced a one-party dictatorship that no longer hides its contempt for freedom.”
The ban doesn’t protect citizens — it punishes them. It criminalizes responsible gun owners, burdens small businesses, threatens conservation funds, and opens the floodgates for costly lawsuits that Democrats know they’ll lose.
“They’re not even pretending anymore,” Powers continued. “They know this bill violates the Second Amendment. They know the courts will strike it down. And they still passed it — because their agenda is more important to them than your rights.”
Worse yet, the Democrats used deceitful tactics to drum up support, allowing national groups like Everytown to hijack Rhode Island’s legislative process with phony email campaigns and manipulated messaging.
“This wasn’t public input. This was political fraud,” Powers said. “They lied to the public, they lied to the press, and they lied to themselves if they think this will go unchallenged.”
The Chairman also condemned the General Assembly’s obsession with political grandstanding at the expense of public safety and fiscal sanity.
“While families are struggling, while our schools crumble, and while our bridges are literally falling apart — they spent their time chasing headlines and trampling the Constitution,” said Powers. “This is about ego. This is about career politicians jockeying for the next job — not about protecting Rhode Islanders.”
Powers didn’t hold back on what’s next:
We now have a clear, targeted list of every legislator who voted to betray their oath — and their time is running out. But we need fighters. If you’re a Republican, an Independent, an Unaffiliated voter, or a Democrat who’s watched your party be hijacked, you’re not alone. JFK Democrats no longer exist — they’ve been replaced by radical leftist progressives who won’t rest until every one of your rights is stripped away. Now is the time to rise up, join our ranks, and take our state back.
The RI GOP is actively recruiting candidates to challenge these anti-Constitution, anti-liberty legislators.
“To every Rhode Islander who still believes in the Constitution — we’re not going to fix this by posting memes or yelling at the TV. We fix it by running for office, knocking doors, and taking back this state seat by seat,” Powers said.
“They’ve drawn the battle lines. Now it’s time to fight.”
Stand with us. Step up. Run. Donate. Get involved.
