2017 -- S 0594

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LC000766

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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: Senator Harold M. Metts

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-33 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-47-33. Possession of firearms by minors.

     (a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to

possess and use any firearm. unless he or she shall hold a permit as provided in § 11-47-34, and

unless the person is in the presence of a parent or guardian or supervising adult 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; provided, 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; provided, further, that a

person under eighteen (18) 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

when accompanied by a parent, guardian or supervising adult.

     (b) The provision contained in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to such

persons that:

     (1) Are in the presence of a parent or guardian or qualified adult at any regular and

recognized shooting range or any range where the firearm may lawfully be shot;

     (2) Are engaged in lawful hunting activity as provided in §20-13-5;

     (3) Are participating in competitive or target shooting when accompanied by a parent,

guardian or qualified adult; or

     (4) Are participating in Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, ceremonial parade

activities, participants in state militia activities or minors participating in a basic firearms

education program.

     (c) When accompanied by a parent, guardian, or qualified adult, a person under eighteen

(18) years of age may transport a firearm, unloaded and encased in a hard-sided or soft-sided,

locked case to and from their home and and the range and from the range to another range; or to

and from their home when the firearm is being lawfully purchased or being repaired; or to and

from all the activities exempted in subsection (b) of this section.

     (b)(d) For purposes of this section only, "qualified adult" means any person twenty-one

(21) eighteen (18) years of age or older and permitted by law to possess and use the firearm in

question.

     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 criminalize the mere possession of a firearm by a minor and would

provide for limited exceptions while the minor is in the presence of a qualified adult or

participating in certain competitive or ceremonial events.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000766

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