Introduced By: Representatives Cicilline, Ajello, Carpenter, Slater and Benoit
Date Introduced : April 28, 1999
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Sections 11-47-32, 11-47-33 and 11-47-34 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons" are hereby amended to read as follows:
11-47-32. Possession of ammunition by minor. --
Except as provided in section 11-47-33, it shall be unlawful within
this state for any person under {DEL fifteen (15) DEL}
{ADD eighteen (18) ADD} years of age to possess and use ammunition,
including any priming charge of powder, propelling charge of powder,
or any form of missile or projectile to be ejected from a firearm.
11-47-33. Possession of firearms by minors. -- {ADD(a)ADD}It
shall be unlawful within this state for any person under {DEL fifteen
(15) DEL} {ADD eighteen (18) ADD} years of age to possess and
use any firearm unless he or she shall hold a permit as provided
in section 11-47-34, and unless the person is in the presence
of a {DEL qualified adult DEL} {ADD parent or guardian or supervising ADD} {ADDadult ADD} at any regular and recognized camp or rifle
range approved by the Rhode Island state police or by the chief
of police of the city or town in which the camp or rifle range
is located {DEL . DEL} {ADD and provided further that this
provision shall not apply to minors engaged in lawful hunting
activity under the supervision of a parent or guardian or qualified
adult, minors participating in Reserve Officer Training Corps
programs, ceremonial parade activities, competitive and target shooting,
participants in state militia activities and minors participating
in a basic firearms education program. ADD} and provided, further,
however, that a person under {DEL fifteen (15) DEL} {ADD eighteen
(18) ADD} years of age may carry a firearm, unloaded, in a suitable
case to and from his or her home and the camp or range and from
the camp or range to other camp or range {ADD when accompanied by
a parent, guardian or supervising adult ADD}.
{ADD(b) For purposes of this section only, the term 'qualified adult' shall mean any person twenty-one (21) years of age or older and {DEL authorized DEL} permitted by law to possess and use said firearm. ADD}
11-47-34. Firearms permits to minors. -- The Rhode
Island state police or the chief of police of the city or town
in which the person resides shall issue permits to any person
under {DEL fifteen (15) DEL} {ADD eighteen (18) ADD} years
of age only upon satisfactory proof of being engaged in a course
of training in the use of firearms at a regular and recognized
camp or rifle range, and further provided that the person has
the written consent of a parent or guardian. Valid membership
cards of junior gun clubs or of junior divisions of senior gun
clubs incorporated in the state of Rhode Island shall be prima
facie evidence of the person under {DEL fifteen (15) DEL}
{ADD eighteen (18) ADD} years of age being engaged in a course of
training in the use of firearms at a regular and recognized camp
or rifle range.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
