2017 -- H 5729

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LC001694

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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

     Introduced By: Representative Ramon A. Perez

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

12 and 11-47-18, carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her

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

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

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

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

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

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

that the other state, territory of the United States or political subdivision of any state or territory

recognizes and gives reciprocity to license or permit holders from the state of Rhode Island or

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

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

the state of Rhode Island. No person shall manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess a machine gun

except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Every person violating the provision of this section

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

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

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

a probation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     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

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     This act would allow those persons with concealed carry permits issued by other states to

carry upon their person weapons in Rhode Island provided that the issuing state recognizes and

gives reciprocity to RI permit holders.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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