Rhode Island SB 946: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

Bill Text

2025 -- S 0946
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LC002207
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
Introduced By: Senators Bissaillon, Lawson, Tikoian, LaMountain, and DiPalma
Date Introduced: April 04, 2025
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" 1
is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
11-47-33. Possession of firearms by minors. 3
(a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to 4
possess and use any firearm unless the person is in the presence of a parent or guardian or 5
supervising adult at any regular and recognized camp or rifle range approved by the Rhode Island 6
state police or by the chief of police of the city or town in which the camp or rifle range is located; 7
provided, that this provision shall not apply to minors engaged in lawful hunting activity under the 8
supervision of a parent or guardian or qualified adult, minors participating in Reserve Officer 9
Training Corps programs, ceremonial parade activities, competitive and target shooting, 10
participants in state militia activities and minors participating in a basic firearms education 11
program; provided, further, that a person under eighteen (18) years of age may carry a firearm, 12
unloaded, in a suitable case to and from his or her home and the camp or range and from the camp 13
or range to other camp or range when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or supervising adult. 14
(b) For purposes of this section only, “qualified adult” means any person twenty-one (21) 15
years of age or older and permitted by law to possess and use the firearm. 16

LC002207 - Page 2 of 3
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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LC002207
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LC002207 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
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This act would specify that it is unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen (18) to 1
possess a firearm. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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LC002207
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