2018 -- H 7598

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LC003328

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Maldonado, Cunha, and Tobon

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-33 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

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is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-47-33. Possession of firearms by minors.

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     (a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to

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possess and use any firearm. unless he or she shall hold a permit as provided in § 11-47-34, and

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unless the person is in the presence of a parent or guardian or supervising adult at any regular and

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recognized camp or rifle range approved by the Rhode Island state police or by the chief of police

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of the city or town in which the camp or rifle range is located; provided, that this provision shall

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not apply to minors engaged in lawful hunting activity under the supervision of a parent or

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guardian or qualified adult, minors participating in Reserve Officer Training Corps programs,

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ceremonial parade activities, competitive and target shooting, participants in state militia

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activities and minors participating in a basic firearms education program; provided, further, that a

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person under eighteen (18) years of age may carry a firearm, unloaded, in a suitable case to and

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from his or her home and the camp or range and from the camp or range to other camp or range

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when accompanied by a parent, guardian or supervising adult.

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     (b) This provision shall not apply to such persons that:

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     (1) Are in the presence of a parent or guardian or qualified adult at any regular and

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recognized shooting range or any range where the firearm may lawfully be shot;

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     (2) Are engaged in lawful hunting activity as provided in § 20-13-5;

 

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     (3) Are participating in competitive or target shooting when accompanied by a parent,

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guardian or qualified adult; or

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     (4) Are participating in a reserve officer training corps program, ceremonial parade

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activities in state militia activities or in a basic firearms education program.

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     (c) When accompanied by a parent, guardian or qualified adult, a person under eighteen

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(18) years of age may transport a firearm, unloaded and encased in a hard-sided or soft-sided,

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locked case to and from their home and the range and from the range to another range; or to and

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from their home when the firearm is being lawfully purchased or being repaired; or to and from

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all the activities set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

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     (b)(d) For purposes of this section only, "qualified adult" means any person twenty-one

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(21) eighteen (18) years of age or older and permitted by law to possess and use the firearm.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

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     This act would criminalize possession of a firearm by a minor, except when the minor is

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engaged in certain activities and when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or qualified adult.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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