2022 -- S 2403

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LC004610

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     Introduced By: Senators Rogers, E Morgan, de la Cruz, F Lombardi, Archambault,
Ciccone, and Lombardo

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-47-20. Sale or possession of silencers Sale and possession of silencers.

     (a) It shall be unlawful within this state to manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess and/or

use a firearm, with an overall length of less than seventeen inches (17"), which has attached any

muffler, silencer, or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm when discharged.

     (b) Violations of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year

and one day.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 20-13 of the General Laws entitled "Hunting and Hunting Safety" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     20-13-18. Hunting with suppressor.

     (a) An individual in lawful possession of a device that will silence, suppress, or muffle the

sound of a natural report of a rifle or shotgun when the rifle or shotgun is discharged may, at his or

her sole discretion, use such device to hunt any game for which the individual is licensed, provided

the host rifle or shotgun to which the device is attached is permitted pursuant to § 20-13-13.

     (b) No city, town, committee, board or state or local agency may enact rules, regulations

or ordinance requiring or in any other manner mandating the use of a device that will silence,

suppress, or muffle the sound or natural report of a rifle or shotgun.

     SECTION 3. 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 allow an individual to lawfully possess a device that would silence the

sound of a natural report of a rifle or shotgun to hunt game, as long as the host rifle or shotgun is

allowed.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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