PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Republican lawmakers criticized the long-awaited package of gun control proposals unveiled by Governor Chafee and leading Democratic lawmakers Tuesday.
State Rep. Michael Chippendale, R-Foster, said many of bills may not be Constitutional.
He took aim in particular on a bill that would give the attorney general the sole authority to issue so called "carry conceal permits" and another that would ban "semiautomatic" weapons.
"Nothing in these proposals will stop a criminal from being a criminal," Chippendale said. "It will just make me and my fellow law-abiding gun owners criminals as well."
State Rep. Doreen Costa, R-North Kingstown, told pro-gun supporters gathered at the State House that the next step is for opponents to carefully read the actual language of the bills.
Then, Costa said, opponents have to be prepared to come out in large numbers to protest the bills when they come up for public hearing.
"What is clear is that we have a bunch of uneducated people making these bills. Period," she said.