2015 -- S 0346

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LC000953

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WILDLIFE REFUGES

     Introduced By: Senator Walter S. Felag

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-50 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-47-50. Firing without landowner's permission -- Firing in compact area. -- (a)

Every person, not being at the time under military duty, who shall discharge any firearm, "BB

gun", or other contrivance arranged to discharge shot, bullets, arrows, darts, or other missiles

within the compact part of any city or town, or who shall discharge a firearm or other contrivance

elsewhere, except upon land owned or occupied by him or her or by permission of the owner or

occupant of the land on or into which he or she may shoot, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and

shall be subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or one year in prison, or both;

provided, that any city or town may by ordinance permit the discharge on non-posted land. The

discharge of any such firearm, "BB gun" or other contrivance within two thousand five hundred

feet (2,500') of any recognized wildlife refuge, including, but not limited to, any refuge or

preserve maintained by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, shall be prohibited and punished in

accordance with the provisions of this section.

      (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the owner of land who uses, or who

gives permission to another to use without charge, a recurve, compound or longbow, provided

that they are not used within two hundred fifty feet (250') of a dwelling house.

     SECTION 2. 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 - WILDLIFE REFUGES

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     This act would provide a protected area around recognized wildlife refuges in which

hunting with weapons would be prohibited.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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