Elisabeth Ryan, policy counsel at Everytown for Gun Safety, rejected claims that the proposed law is weak. “The weakest law is what Rhode Island has now, no ban on assault weapons,” Ryan said.

Rhode Island lawmakers pass bill to ban sales of assault weapons FILE - Pedestrians walk past the Rhode Island Statehouse on March 1, 2020, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) ...

Rhode Island's Democratic-controlled state House on Friday approved legislation that would ban the sale and manufacturing of many semiautomatic rifles commonly referred to as assault weapons.