Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee signed a sweeping ban on common firearms into law on Thursday, joined by anti-gun advocates who had previously supported his gubernatorial campaign. 

McKee signed S.359A into law this week before a select group comprised of fellow Democratic lawmakers and activists from Moms Demand Action and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence. 

"Today, we’re delivering progress on the work to keep our children, families, and communities safe from gun violence," said McKee in a statement. "This law builds on the important momentum we’ve created over the last few years and is a testament to the dedication of our advocates, legislators, and many Rhode Islanders who stood up for a safer state."

Effective starting in July 2026, the new law prohibits the sale and manufacture of most semi-auto rifles as well as some semi-auto pistols and shotguns in the Ocean State. Those found to be in violation risk a decade in prison and fines as high as $10,000. 

Firearms industry groups hold that upward of 28 million "black rifles" are in circulation. 

S.359A was muscled through the state assembly by a Dem majority, but Republican House Minority Leader, Rep. Michael Chippendale, warned it would likely find its way to court.

"[I]t will face immediate legal challenges – lawsuits that Rhode Island taxpayers will be forced to fund at a time when our state is already struggling to balance its budget," said Chippendale earlier this month. "The cost of defending this constitutionally questionable law could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with no guarantee of success."

The Republicans also pointed out that the new law will likely have little impact on crime. 

"Worse yet, this legislation does nothing to address the real source of gun violence – criminal misuse of firearms," said Chippendale. "Instead, it targets law-abiding citizens, turning responsible gun owners into felons overnight for simply owning a firearm that was legally purchased and safely stored. This bill punishes the people who follow the law while doing nothing to deter those who commit crimes with illegal firearms." 

According to the crime data maintained by the FBI for the past decade, only one of the 274 documented homicides in Rhode Island over that period was committed with a rifle. 

Rhode Island joins California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Washington in its arbitrary prohibition on common firearms.