2017 -- H 5156

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LC000641

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS - STUN-GUNS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Lima, Fellela, Marshall, and Roberts

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 11-47-8 and 11-47-42 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47

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entitled "Weapons" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-47-8. License or permit required for carrying pistol -- Possession of machine gun.

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License or permit required for carrying pistol or stun-gun. -- Possession of machine gun.

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     (a) No person shall, without a license or permit issued as provided in §§ 11-47-11, 11-47-

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12 and 11-47-18, carry a pistol, or revolver, or stun-gun in any vehicle or conveyance or on or

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about his or her person whether visible or concealed, except in his or her dwelling house or place

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of business or on land possessed by him or her or as provided in §§ 11-47-9 and 11-47-10. The

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provisions of these sections shall not apply to any person who is the holder of a valid license or

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permit issued by the licensing authority of another state, or territory of the United States, or

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political subdivision of the state or territory, allowing him or her to carry a pistol or revolver in

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any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed, provided

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the person is merely transporting the firearm through the state in a vehicle or other conveyance

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without any intent on the part of the person to detain him or herself or remain within the state of

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Rhode Island. No person shall manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess a machine gun except as

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otherwise provided in this chapter. Every person violating the provision of this section shall, upon

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conviction, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten (10) years, or by

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a fine up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, and except for a first conviction under this

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section shall not be afforded the provisions of suspension or deferment of sentence, nor a

 

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probation.

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     (b) No person shall have in his or her possession or under his or her control any sawed-

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off shotgun or sawed-off rifle as defined in § 11-47-2. Any person convicted of violating this

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subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for up to ten (10) years, or by a fine of up to five

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thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

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     (c) No person shall have in his or her possession or under his or her control any firearm

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while the person delivers, possesses with intent to deliver, or manufactures a controlled

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substance. Any person convicted of violating this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment

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for not less than two (2) years nor more than twenty (20) years, and the sentence shall be

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consecutive to any sentence the person may receive for the delivery, possession with intent to

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deliver, or the manufacture of the controlled substance. It shall not be a defense to a violation of

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this subsection that a person has a license or permit to carry or possess a firearm.

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     11-47-42. Weapons other than firearms prohibited.

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     (a) (1) No person shall carry or possess or attempt to use against another any instrument

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or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slingshot, billy, sandclub, sandbag, metal

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knuckles, slap glove, bludgeon, stun-gun, or the so called "Kung-Fu" weapons.

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     (2) No person shall with intent to use unlawfully against another, carry or possess a

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crossbow, dagger, dirk, stiletto, sword-in-cane, bowie knife, or other similar weapon designed to

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cut and stab another.

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     (3) No person shall wear or carry concealed upon his person, any of the above-mentioned

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instruments or weapons, or any razor, or knife of any description having a blade of more than

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three (3) inches in length measuring from the end of the handle where the blade is attached to the

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end of the blade, or other weapon of like kind or description.

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     Any person violating the provisions of these subsections shall be punished by a fine of

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not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or

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both, and the weapon so found shall be confiscated.

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     Any person violating the provisions of these subsections while he or she is incarcerated

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within the confines of the adult correctional institutions shall be punished by a fine of not less

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than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by

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imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five (5) years, or both, and the weapon so

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found shall be confiscated.

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     (b) No person shall sell to a person under eighteen (18) years of age, without the written

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authorization of the minor's parent or legal guardian, any stink bomb, blackjack, slingshot, bill,

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sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles, slap glove, bludgeon, stungun, paint ball gun, so called

 

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"kung-fu" weapons, dagger, dirk, stiletto, sword-in-cane, bowie knife, razor, or knife of any

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description having a blade of more than three inches (3") in length as described in subsection (a)

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of this section, or any multi-pronged star with sharpened edges designed to be used as a weapon

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and commonly known as a Chinese throwing star, except that an individual who is actually

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engaged in the instruction of martial arts and licensed under § 5-43-1 may carry and possess any

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multi-pronged star with sharpened edges for the sole purpose of instructional use. Any person

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violating the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of not less than one

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thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by imprisonment for

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not less than one year nor more than five (5) years, or both, and the weapons so found shall be

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confiscated.

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     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 - WEAPONS - STUN-GUNS

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     This act would permit the possession of a stun-gun under the same license conditions

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which apply to possession of a pistol.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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