AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Increases sentences for carrying a stolen firearm when committing a crime of violence and for possessing a stolen firearm. Requires that a person convicted of these offenses serve a period of time in which they would not be eligible for parole/ probation.)

S2285

2026 -- S 2285
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LC003461
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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:
Senators Raptakis, Famiglietti, Appollonio, Burke, Rogers, Patalano,
Thompson, Dimitri, Tikoian, and Felag

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Sections 11-47-3.1 and 11-47-5.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47
2
entitled "Weapons" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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11-47-3.1. Carrying a stolen firearm when committing a crime of violence.
4
No person shall commit a crime of violence when armed with or having available a stolen
5
firearm. Every person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished: (1) for the first
6
conviction by imprisonment for not less than
five (5)

ten (10)
nor more than
fifteen (15)

twenty
7
(20)
years
and shall serve at least five (5) years without the eligibility for parole or probation
; (2)
8
for a second conviction under this section by imprisonment for not less than fifteen (15) nor more
9
than
twenty (20)

twenty-five (25)
years
and shall serve at least ten (10) years without the eligibility
10
for parole or probation
; and (3) for a third or subsequent conviction under this section by
11
imprisonment for not less than
twenty (20)

twenty-five (25)
years and may be imprisoned for life
12
and shall serve at least fifteen (15) years without the eligibility for parole or probation
. The sentence
13
imposed shall be consecutive to the underlying sentence for the crime of violence.
14

11-47-5.2. Possession of a stolen firearm.
15
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess a stolen firearm, knowing it to be stolen. Any
16
person in violation of this section shall be guilty of a felony and subject to imprisonment for not
17
less than
three (3)

five (5)
years nor more than
fifteen (15)

twenty (20)
years.
Any person convicted
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under this section who is a first offender shall serve at least three (3) years without the eligibility
19
for parole or probation and any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense shall serve at

1
least ten (10) years without the eligibility for parole or probation.
2
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
***
1
This act would increase the sentences for carrying a stolen firearm when committing a
2
crime of violence and for possessing a stolen firearm and would require that a person convicted of
3
these offenses serve a period of time in which they would not be eligible for parole or probation.
4
Penalties would increase for second and subsequent offenses.
5
This act would take effect upon passage.
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