Outdoors in RI: All 2A, this day – Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, contributing writer

I am stunned!  Two back-to-back nights at the RI State House of the annual Anti-Gun Follies and Comedy show.  At least in 2024 we were out at 8pm on Tuesday and 9pm on Wednesday. This year saw the usual emotion style antics by the anti-gun mob.

At the House Judiciary hearings there was a family that lost their 15-year-old daughter to street gunfire and heartfelt sympathies go out to that family. The mom stated if her home was broken into, she would defend herself with a bat. That would be pointless as a person of my size could easily take the bat from her.  If she truly wants to be able to defend her family against an intruder, it would be with a gun. She would be on a level playing field with her attacker. The mom has an inalienable right to self-defense that is reaffirmed in the U.S. Constitution and is reaffirmed in 5 major gun rights SCOTUS cases.

But it was plainly clear that she was there to ban “assault weapons”, words that are used as propaganda for the cause. She stated that “assault weapons are no good for hunting deer”. How would she know – she doesn’t own a firearm and never has been hunting. I am sure the criminals that took her daughter’s life – there was no mention of capture and prosecution – are your typical city street rats. These rats do not abide by the law, period!  Gun owners are good, honest, hard-working people who do not commit crimes unless it happens by some obtuse RI law that violates the Second Amendment. For instance, gun owners do not stand out in Garden City parking lots scratching the paint on vehicles of their opponents. 

There was a balance of pro-gun women and “Moms Demand Everything“. It is fantastic that the pro-gun women are now turning out in droves in Rhode Island, and also around the USA. It is important to show everyone of the fallacies being disseminated by the Moms Demand (Action). It only represents one of the largest groups of people getting firearms training, and buying firearms – women.

Thursday my editor discovered that Congressman Seth Magaziner had sent out a constituency letter asking people how they felt about gun control. In that letter he mentioned mass shooting numbers for the 2023 year, up to date as of November. Problem is, the person posted an image of his letter – yesterday – without a date on it – leaving the number “to date” looking at least 4 times more than what it really is for the first quarter of 2024. Intentionally misleading. All to promote this year’s crop of anti-gun bills, and one obscure bill that could eliminate shooting ranges (including those used to train law enforcement). It’s “advocacy” efforts like this one that will see that bill, in particular, die a quiet death.

Further it was determined that Gun Violence Archives may be using inflated numbers that are not even close to those shooting numbers that are published by the FBI. How? By using a different definition of terms. This is where the problem lies as the general public believes what is being reported by Rep. Magaziner and Gun Violence Archives.

The posting on “X” claim that there have been more than 565 Mass Shootings in the USA “so far this year”. The year is 2024, and it’s March. The number “565” is a new defined number being used by GVA for all of 2023. Do you think deleting the date on the letter was intentional? My editor informed the Congressman’s office of just how his letter is being used.

Some of the “Moms” testifiers had smiles on their faces while at the table. Others rolled their eyes and covered what looked like giggles, that only the Judiciary members could see, as pro-gun advocates were testifying.  Were they aware of a deal that was to come?

The instantaneous vote taken by the Senate Judiciary Committee the moment testimony ended might indicate such a deal. I was only seconds out of the Senate chamber and my editor texted me that S2202 had passed out to the Senate floor for a full vote. All other bills – some 18 or more – were “held for further study” – meaning they could die a quiet death or rise out of nowhere with no notice for a vote on passage. Typical RI political process. Another black eye for the legislators was when this writer witnessed a number of them on their cell phones for extended periods of time – when they should have been listening to testimony on February 27th. Another note is the absence at the Senate Judiciary hearing of two members – both Democrats supporting 2A. What a surprise and how Rhode Island-isk.

My House Judiciary testimony: 

H7217 and H7373 are unconstitutional.  Similar Bills in the Senate last night were as well.  Apparently, this building has a total disregard for the US and RI constitutions. My opinion would be they have total contempt. This is why I testified about 18 US Codes 241 and 242 last year and on Feb. 27th. Both are statutes that make it a crime to interfere with a person’s constitutional rights. After last night’s Senate Judiciary. vote that supported a constitutional violation and necessitates legal action under 18 US codes 241 and 242 I made a call down to Washington DC this am.

I mentioned last night at the Senate Judiciary hearing about how I have joined forces with the Second Amendment Foundation and we have brought a class action lawsuit against MA anti-gun politicians personally for their unconstitutional votes with Red Flag and Restraining order laws.  There are other states that are subject to the same lawsuits.  I also mentioned if these same anti-gun politicians will feel their anti-gun agenda is worth their life’s savings. I wonder if other States will be sued as well, as lawsuits are popping up like daises. 

Rhode Island is now being heavily scrutinized after last night’s vote. – Stay Tuned!!!!!

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While the testimony received accolades from the gun community, I am not sure how it was received from the Anti-gun contingent. 18 US codes 241 and 242 apply not only to politicians and all government officials but to those civilians wearing red shirts who conspire to violate US citizens constitutional rights.  This is not an opinion. Decide for yourself. Here is the FBI 241 & 242 link:  

Federal Civil Rights Statutes — FBI

Federal Civil Rights Statutes | Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI is able to investigate civil rights violations based on a series of federal laws.

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Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”.  Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative and Legal Officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Whimsical. He can be reached at: [email protected]