Hello, my name is Jonathon Sisto. I am a U.S. citizen who has been exercising my Second Amendment rights since I was legally able to. This right, enshrined in our Constitution, boldly declares "shall not be infringed." It is a fundamental liberty that I, like many Americans, have embraced responsibly. House Bill H 8073, introduced on February 27, 2026, threatens to infringe upon this very right by incorporating amendments that criminalize the possession of what they term as "prohibited firearms." This bill, if enacted, will unjustly turn many law-abiding citizens like myself into felons overnight—criminalized for exercising a constitutional right.

The RI H8073 Bill restricts the manufacture, sale, and possession of certain firearms. specifically firearms they deem anything styled as a " Assault Rifle". The problem is their definition is any rifle that is magazine fed, or is compatible for magazines. This attack not just the AR-15 but shot guns such as Mosseburg and Remington as well as rifles made by Ruger. They see to ban any magazine fed firearm regardless of caliber. do you believe a felony charge is justifiable for owning a Ruger .22LR?. The problem with this bill is they designed it to remain as much of a blanket as possible, so they can change it as they seem fit, and they already are. on February 27, 2026 the State issued an amendment that not only would make possession of these classified firearms a felony, but the Grandfather Clause that was promised to us would be taken away, they broke their promise. What will keep them from adding a new amendment that will attack LTC carriers? hand guns? black powder rifles? the list goes on for what they can strip from us. It needs to be stopped, we should not be made criminals for exercising our rights as American Citizens. 

This is not just about a piece of legislation; this is about our freedom and the principles upon which this nation was founded. Those advocating for this bill have the protection of municipal, state, and federal law enforcement. Yet, they seek to disarm individuals who don't have such resources, leaving the average citizen vulnerable and defenseless.

Our forefathers created this amendment to protect their future children of liberty. They watered the Tree of Liberty with the blood of themselves and their enemies to give us this right. And it is to be stripped from us, while they grant reduced sentences to career criminals?. I’m sorry but I refuse to allow my children grow up in a country where they are told what limit they are allowed to protect themselves, while the people who tell them this are protected by a garrison of municipal, state and federal police along with national guard. The Second Amendment was created and designed to grow with the times, we should be allowed to own what our police and military utilize. Yes we can’t “ out gun a government” so you decide to disarm us as a whole?. LOOK at where this country was founded.. farmers and mill workers, defended against one of the largest empires in the world. And they did it with their Firearms.

The statistics are clear. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, legally owned firearms are rarely used in the commission of crimes. Instead, they are frequently utilized by responsible citizens for protection, sport, and recreation. The narrative that possession of certain firearms automatically equates to criminal activity is misleading and unsupported by factual data

Rhode Island's own laws already regulate firearms effectively. This new amendment is not about public safety; it's about control and restriction—plain and simple. What's next? If we allow this overreach to proceed unchallenged, we set a precedent that could erode other freedoms.

To our lawmakers: reversing this bill would not only honor the constitution but also respect the responsible gun-owners of our state. I urge you to consider the real impact of this legislation, beyond the political narratives, and to act in the best interests of the people.

Join me in taking a stand for our rights and liberties. Sign this petition to repeal Rhode Island House Bill H 8073 and protect our Second Amendment rights.