AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Makes it permissible for any student, professor, or other employee of any public or private college or university, to carry, possess and have in their custody, possession and/or under their control, a stun-gun or pepper spray for purposes of self-defense.)

H8070

2026 -- H 8070
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LC005454
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

Introduced By:
Representatives Hopkins, Casimiro, Casey, Noret, J. Brien, and Place

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. 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 or
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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
; provided, however,
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that any student, professor, or other employee of any public or private college or university, may
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carry, possess and have in their custody, possession and/or under their control, a stun-gun or pepper
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spray for purposes of self-defense
.
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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 three
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(3) inches in length measuring from the end of the handle where the blade is attached to the end of
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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 not
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more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both,
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and the weapon so found shall be confiscated.

1
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 than
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one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by imprisonment
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for not less than one year nor more than five (5) years, or both, and the weapon so found shall be
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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 “kung-
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fu” weapons, dagger, dirk, stiletto, sword-in-cane, bowie knife, razor, or knife of any description
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having a blade of more than three inches (3″) in length as described in subsection (a) of this section,
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or any multi-pronged star with sharpened edges designed to be used as a weapon and commonly
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known as a Chinese throwing star, except that an individual who is actually engaged in the
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instruction of martial arts and licensed under § 5-43-1 [repealed] may carry and possess any multi-
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pronged star with sharpened edges for the sole purpose of instructional use. Any person violating
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the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars
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($1,000) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by imprisonment for not less than one
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year nor more than five (5) years, or both, and the weapons so found shall be confiscated.
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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 make it permissible for any student, professor, or other employee of any
2
public or private college or university, to carry, possess and have in their custody, possession and/or
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under their control, a stun-gun or pepper spray for purposes of self-defense.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005454
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LC005454 - Page 3 of 3