2025 -- S 0359 SUBSTITUTE A

========

LC001183/SUB A/2

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- UNLAWFUL SALE OF PROHIBITED

FIREARMS

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Lawson, Gallo, Sosnowski, LaMountain, Felag,
Murray, Vargas, McKenney, and Lauria

     Date Introduced: February 21, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Governor)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 11 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL OFFENSES" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 47.2

UNLAWFUL SALE OF PROHIBITED FIREARMS

     11-47.2-1. Definitions.

     When used in this chapter:

     (1) "Ammunition feeding device" means a magazine, box, drum, tube, belt, feed strip, or

device which is capable of holding ammunition to be fed continuously and directly therefrom into

a semi-automatic firearm. The term shall not include an attached tubular device which is capable

of holding only .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

     (2) "Detachable magazine" means an ammunition feeding device that attaches to a firearm

and which can be removed without disassembly of the firearm, including an ammunition feeding

device that may be readily removed from a firearm with the use of a bullet, cartridge, accessory, or

other tool, or any other object that functions as a tool.

     (3) "Federally licensed firearm dealer" means a person who holds a valid federal firearm

dealers license issued pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 923(a).

     (4) "Fixed magazine" means an ammunition feeding device that is permanently fixed to the

firearm in such a manner that it cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm, or contained

in and not removable from a firearm, or that is otherwise not a detachable magazine, but does not

include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22

caliber rimfire ammunition.

     (5) "Folding or telescoping stock" means a stock that folds, telescopes, detaches or

otherwise operates to reduce the length, size, or any other dimension, or otherwise enhances the

concealability, of a firearm.

     (6) "Forward grip" means a grip or handle located forward of the trigger.

     (7) "Grenade launcher" means a device designed to fire, launch or propel a grenade.

     (8) "Pistol grip" means a well-defined handle, similar to that found on a handgun, that

protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, and which permits the firearm to be held

and fired with one hand.

     (9) "Prohibited firearm" means:

     (i) A semi-automatic shotgun that has a fixed magazine capacity exceeding six (6) rounds;

     (ii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder;

     (iii) A semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity exceeding ten (10) rounds;

     (iv) A semi-automatic rifle that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine, and has at

least one of the following features:

     (A) A folding or telescoping stock;

     (B) A bayonet mount;

     (C) A grenade launcher;

     (D) A shroud attached to the barrel or that partially or completely encircles the barrel,

allowing the bearer to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned, except an

extension of the stock along the bottom of the barrel, which does not encircle or substantially

encircle the barrel.

     (E) A pistol grip or thumbhole stock; or

     (F) A flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor;

     (v) A semi-automatic pistol that has a fixed magazine capacity exceeding ten (10) rounds;

     (vi) A semi-automatic firearm that has the capacity to accept a belt ammunition feeding

device;

     (vii) "Prohibited firearm" shall not include a semi-automatic rifle which has an attached

tubular device and which is capable of operating only with .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

     (10) "Semi-automatic" means a firearm which fires a single projectile for each single pull

of the trigger and is self-reloading or automatically chambers a round, cartridge, or bullet.

     (11) "Threaded barrel" means threads on the muzzle end of a barrel and shall include, but

LC001183/SUB A/2 - Page 2 of 3

not be limited to, any barrel on which a flash suppressor, muzzle brake or silencer has been attached.

     11-47.2-2. Restrictions on manufacture, sale, and purchase of prohibited firearms.

     (a) No person shall manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, or purchase a prohibited

firearm, except as otherwise authorized under this section. Any person convicted of violating this

subsection shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine up to

ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and the prohibited firearm shall be subject to forfeiture.

     (b) The following limited exceptions to subsection (a) of this section shall apply:

     (1) A person who lawfully possesses a prohibited firearm may sell, offer to sell, or transfer

their prohibited firearm to a federally licensed firearm dealer, or to an individual outside the state

who may lawfully possess such weapon.

     (2) A federally licensed firearm dealer may sell, offer to sell, or transfer a prohibited

firearm to another federally licensed firearm dealer, or to a law enforcement entity identified in

subsection (b)(3) of this section, or to an individual outside the state who may lawfully possess

such weapon.

     (3) A law enforcement agency, acting under authority of the United States, the state or any

of its political subdivisions, to import or purchase a prohibited firearm and may lawfully sell, offer

to sell, or transfer a prohibited firearm to a federally licensed firearm dealer or to another law

enforcement agency, acting under authority of the United States or a state or any of its political

subdivisions.

     11-47.2-3. Severability.

     If any provision of the chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is

held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provisions or applications of this chapter,

which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions

of this chapter are declared to be severable.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

========

LC001183/SUB A/2

========

LC001183/SUB A/2 - Page 3 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- UNLAWFUL SALE OF PROHIBITED

FIREARMS

***

     This act would define various prohibited firearms and would restrict the manufacture, sale,

and purchase thereof.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

========

LC001183/SUB A/2

========

LC001183/SUB A/2 - Page 4 of 3