It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 11-47-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended to read as follows:
{ADD 11-47-2. Definition of terms. -- ADD} When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be construed as follows:
(1) "Antique firearm" shall be defined as that term is defined under the provisions of title 18, United States code, subsection 921 [18 USC section 921].
(2) "Crime of violence" shall mean and include any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of them.: murder, manslaughter, rape, {ADD first or second degree sexual assault, first or second degree child molestation, kidnapping, first and second degree arson, ADD} mayhem, robbery, burglary, breaking and entering, any felony violation involving the illegal manufacture, sale, or delivery of a controlled substance possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a controlled substance classified in schedule I or schedule II of section 21-28-2.08, {ADD any violation of section 21-28-4.01.1 or section 21-28-4.01.2 or conspiracy to commit any violation of these statutes, ADD} assault with a dangerous weapon, assault or battery involving grave bodily injury, and/or assault with intent to commit any offense punishable as a felony.
(3) "Firearm" shall include any machine gun, pistol, rifle, air rifle, air pistol, "blank gun," "BB gun," so-called, or other instrument from which steel or metal projectiles are propelled, or which may readily be converted to expel a projectile, except recurve, compound, or longbows and except such instruments propelling such projectiles which instruments are designed or normally used for a primary purpose other than as a weapon. The frame or receiver of any such weapon shall be construed as a firearm under the provisions of this section.
(4) "Fugitive from justice" shall mean any person who has fled from any state, territory, the District of Columbia, or possession of the United States to avoid prosecution for a crime of violence or to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceeding.
(5) "Licensing authorities" shall mean the board of police commissioners of a city or town where such board has been instituted, the chief of police or superintendent of police of other cities and towns having a regular organized police force, and, in towns where there is no chief of police or superintendent of police, it shall mean the town clerk who may issue licenses upon the recommendation of the town sergeant, and it shall also mean any other person or body duly authorized by the city or town charter or by state law.
(6) "Machine gun" means any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if the parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.
(7) "Person" shall include individual, partnership, firm, association, or corporation.
(8) "Pistol" shall include any pistol or revolver, and any shotgun, rifle, or similar weapon with overall length less than twenty-six (26) inches, but shall not include any pistol or revolver designed for the use of blank cartridges only.
(9) "Sawed-off rifle" shall mean any rifle with overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches and/or barrel length of less than sixteen (16) inches.
(10) "Sawed-off shotgun" shall mean any shotgun with overall length of less than twenty-six (26) inches and/or barrel length of less than eighteen (18) inches.
(11) "Sell" shall include let or hire, give, lend, and transfer, and the word "purchase" shall include hire, accept, and borrow, and the expression "purchasing" shall be construed accordingly.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.