2022 -- H 6616

========

LC003480

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, McEntee, Batista, Knight, Cortvriend, Cassar,
Amore, Craven, Fogarty, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following section:

     11-47-64. Background check for ammunition purchase of transfer.

     (a) Except for sales or transfers to active law enforcement officers, no person shall sell,

transfer or deliver any ammunition, shotgun shells, gun powder, primer, bullets or ammunition

loading components to any person unless the seller or transferor first submits to and receives from

the state police, a municipal law enforcement agency or the National Instant Criminal Background

Check System, a completed background check for the purchaser or transferee.

     (b) No ammunition shall be sold or transferred to any person prohibited by law from

possession of a firearm or ammunition to include, but not be limited to, the provisions of §§ 11-47-

5, 11-47-6, 11-47-7, 11-47-23, 11-47-30 or 11-47-31.

     (c) No person shall possess ammunition who is prohibited by law from possessing a

firearm. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment

for up to one year or fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

     (d) Upon receipt of a background check documenting no disqualifying information, the

seller or transferor may sell or transfer the ammunition or ammunition components to the purchaser

or transferee.

     (e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to bona fide sales at wholesale to licensed

retail dealers.

     (f) Any seller or transferee violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a

fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) per violation.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003480

========

LC003480 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

***

     This act would prohibit the sale or transfer of ammunition unless the purchaser successfully

undergoes a background check.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC003480

========

LC003480 - Page 3 of 3