2024 -- S 2199

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LC003736

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Rogers, de la Cruz, Paolino, DeLuca, E Morgan, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-20 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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     11-47-20. Sale or possession of silencers.

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

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

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

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

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and one day.

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

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     20-13-18. Hunting with suppressor.

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

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

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

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provided the host rifle or shotgun to which the device is attached is permitted pursuant to ยง 20-13-

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13.

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

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

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

 

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     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

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

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allowed.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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