2019 -- H 5884

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LC002202

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Lima, Solomon, Ucci, Corvese, and Casey

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Preamble: The United States Supreme Court has held that the Second

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Amendment of the United States Constitution extends to all instruments that constitute bearable

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arms, even those that were not in existence at the time of the founding, and that the Second

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Amendment is fully applicable to the States. Further that the Second Amendment protects the

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possession of stun guns as a legitimate means of self-defense and that a categorical ban on

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possessing or owning such a weapon violates the Second Amendment, and therefore by

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application violates Article 1, Section 22 of the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island.

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     SECTION 2. Section 11-47-42 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

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is hereby amended to read as follows:

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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 ยง 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 3. 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 make the possession and ownership of stun guns legal.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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