2023 -- S 0383
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LC001529
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
Introduced By: Senators Rogers, de la Cruz, DeLuca, and Paolino
Date Introduced: February 16, 2023
Referred To: Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 11-47-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons" 1
is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
11-47-20. Sale or possession of silencers Sale and possession of silencers. 3
(a) It shall be unlawful within this state to manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess and/or 4
use a firearm, with an overall length of less than seventeen inches (17"), which has attached any 5
muffler, silencer, or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm when discharged. 6
(b) Violations of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year 7
and one day. 8
SECTION 2. Chapter 20-13 of the General Laws entitled "Hunting and Hunting Safety" is 9
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 10
20-13-18. Hunting with suppressor. 11
(a) An individual in lawful possession of a device that will silence, suppress, or muffle the 12
sound of a natural report of a rifle or shotgun when the rifle or shotgun is discharged may, at his or 13
her sole discretion, use such device to hunt any game for which the individual is licensed, provided 14
the host rifle or shotgun to which the device is attached is permitted pursuant to ยง 20-13-13. 15
(b) No city, town, committee, board or state or local agency may enact rules, regulations 16
or ordinance requiring or in any other manner mandating the use of a device that will silence, 17
suppress, or muffle the sound or natural report of a rifle or shotgun. 18
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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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 an individual to lawfully possess a device that would silence the 1
sound of a natural report of a rifle or shotgun to hunt game, as long as the host rifle or shotgun is 2
allowed. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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