AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Allows a person over 18 to purchase a stun gun or electronic dart gun and prohibits the sale of a stun gun or electronic dart gun to a person under 18 and criminalizes using a stun gun or electronic dart gun in a crime or against a police officer.)

S2395

2026 -- S 2395
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LC004248
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

Introduced By:
Senators Thompson, Dimitri, Burke, Ciccone, Famiglietti, Tikoian,
Appollonio, Patalano, Raptakis, and Paolino

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 11-47-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons" is
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hereby amended to read as follows:
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11-47-2. Definitions.
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When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases are construed as follows:
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(1) “3D printing process” means 3D printing or additive manufacturing which is a process
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of making three (3) dimensional solid objects from a computer file and shall include any of various
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processes in which material is joined or solidified under computer control to create a three (3)
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dimensional object, with material being added together including liquid molecules or powder
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grains.
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(2) “Antique firearm” is defined as that term is defined under the provisions of 18 U.S.C.
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§ 921.
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(3) “Binary trigger” means a device that replaces a standard trigger on a semi-automatic
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weapon and is designed to fire one round on the pull of the trigger and another round upon release
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of the trigger.
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(4) “Bump-fire stock” means any device that replaces a semi-automatic weapon’s standard
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stock and is designed to slide back and forth rapidly, harnessing the weapon’s recoil to rapidly fire
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the weapon.
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(5) “Crime gun” means any firearm used in a crime or identified by law enforcement as
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suspected of having been used in a criminal offense.

1

(6) “Electronic dart gun” means any handheld device that transmits an electric current from
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the device to a person by expelling steel or metal prongs, darts or projectiles to make contact with
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a person, and is activated by a trigger button.
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(6)
(7)
“Crime of violence” means and includes any of the following crimes or an attempt
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to commit any of them: murder, manslaughter, rape, first- or second-degree sexual assault, first- or
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second-degree child molestation, kidnapping, first- and second-degree arson, mayhem, robbery,
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burglary, breaking and entering, any felony violation involving the illegal manufacture, sale, or
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delivery of a controlled substance, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a
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controlled substance classified in schedule I or schedule II of § 21-28-2.08, any violation of § 21-
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28-4.01.1 or § 21-28-4.01.2 or conspiracy to commit any violation of these statutes, assault with a
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dangerous weapon, assault or battery involving grave bodily injury, or assault with intent to commit
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any offense punishable as a felony; upon any conviction of an offense punishable as a felony
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offense under § 12-29-5.
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(7)
(8)
“Firearm” includes any machine gun, pistol, rifle, air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun,”
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“BB gun,” or other instrument from which steel or metal projectiles are propelled, or that may
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readily be converted to expel a projectile, except crossbows, recurve, compound, or longbows
, and
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except instruments propelling projectiles that are designed or normally used for a primary purpose
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other than as a weapon
. The frame or receiver of the weapon shall be construed as a firearm under
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the provisions of this section.
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(8)
(9)
“Fugitive from justice” means any person who has fled from any state, territory, the
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District of Columbia, or possession of the United States to avoid prosecution for a crime of violence
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or to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceeding.
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(9)
(10)
“Ghost gun” means a firearm, including a frame or receiver, that lacks a unique
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serial number engraved or cased in metal alloy on the frame or receiver by a licensed manufacturer,
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maker, or importer under federal law or markings in accordance with 27 C.F.R. § 479.102. It does
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not include a firearm that has been rendered permanently inoperable, or a firearm that is not
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required to have a serial number in accordance with the federal Gun Control Act of 1968.
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(10)
(11)
“Licensing authorities” means the board of police commissioners of a city or town
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where the board has been instituted, the chief of police or superintendent of police of other cities
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and towns having a regular organized police force, and, in towns where there is no chief of police
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or superintendent of police, it means the town clerk who may issue licenses upon the
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recommendation of the town sergeant, and it also means any other person or body duly authorized
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by the city or town charter or by state law.
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(11)
(12)
“Machine gun” means any weapon that shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be

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readily restored to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single
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function of the trigger. The term also includes the frame or receiver of the weapon, any combination
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of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any
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combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if the parts are in the possession
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or under the control of a person.
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(12)
(13)
“Major component” means, with respect to a firearm:
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(i) The slide or cylinder or the frame or receiver of the firearm; and
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(ii) In the case of a rifle or shotgun, includes the barrel of the firearm.
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(13)
(14)
“Person” includes an individual, partnership, firm, association, or corporation.
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(14)
(15)
“Pistol” includes any pistol or revolver, and any shotgun, rifle, or similar weapon
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with overall length less than twenty-six inches (26″), but does not include any pistol or revolver
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designed for the use of blank cartridges only.
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(15)
(16)
“Rifle” shall have the same meaning as in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(c), and by barrel
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length and overall length not be subject to registration pursuant to the National Firearms Act, 26
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U.S.C. ch. 53 (prior § 5801 et seq.).
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(16)
(17)
“Sawed-off rifle” means any rifle with overall length of less than twenty-six
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inches (26″) or barrel length of less than sixteen inches (16″).
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(17)
(18)
“Sawed-off shotgun” means any shotgun with overall length of less than twenty-
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six inches (26″) or barrel length of less than eighteen inches (18″).
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(18)
(19)
“Sell” includes let or hire, give, lend, and transfer, and “purchase” includes hire,
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accept, and borrow, and “purchasing” shall be construed accordingly.
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(19)
(20)
“Shotgun” shall have the same meaning as in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(d), and by barrel
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length and overall length not be subject to registration pursuant to the National Firearms Act, 26
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U.S.C. ch. 53 (prior § 5801 et seq.).
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(21) “Stun gun” means a battery powered handheld device that transmits an electric charge
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from the device to a person, while touching or applying the device to a person, and is activated by
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a trigger button.
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(20)
(22)
“Trigger crank” means a trigger actuator that attaches to the trigger of a semi-
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automatic weapon and causes the weapon to fire by turning the crank handle.
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(21)
(23)
“Undetectable firearm” means any firearm that:
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(i) After removal of all parts, other than a major component, is not as detectable by walk-
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through metal detectors commonly used at airports or other public buildings; or
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(ii) Any major component of which, if subjected to inspection by the types of detection
34
devices commonly used at airports or other public buildings for security screening, would not

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generate an image that accurately depicts the shape of the component; or
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(iii) Is manufactured wholly of plastic, fiberglass, or through a 3D printing process; or
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(iv) Upon which the frame or receiver lacks a unique serial number engraved or cased into
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on the frame or receiver by a licensed manufacturer, maker, or importer under federal law, or
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markings in accordance with 27 C.F.R. § 479.102. Provided, however, this subsection shall not
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apply to any firearm rendered permanently inoperable or a firearm manufactured prior to 1968.
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SECTION 2. 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.
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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.
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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 3. Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended
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by adding thereto the following section:
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11-47-8.2. Purchase, possession, sale or use of stun gun or electronic dart gun.

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(a) Except as otherwise prohibited by law or the provisions of §11-47-5, a person eighteen
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(18) years of age or over may purchase a stun gun or electronic dart gun.
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(b) No person shall sell or attempt to sell, transfer, deliver or furnish a stun gun or electronic
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dart gun to a person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age. Any person convicted of violating
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the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a felony and may be punished by imprisonment
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for not more than five (5) years.
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(c) No person shall use or attempt to use a stun gun or electronic dart gun in the commission
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of a crime. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a
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felony and may be punished by a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment
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for not more than ten (10) years, or both.
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(d) No person shall use or attempt to use a stun gun or electronic dart gun on a police officer
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who is engaged in the performance of their duty. Any person convicted of violating the provisions
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of this subsection shall be guilty of a felony and may be punished by a fine of up to ten thousand
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dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, or both. Any sentence
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imposed upon a person pursuant to this subsection shall be imposed consecutively to and not
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concurrently with any sentence imposed for the underlying crime or attempted crime, and the
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person shall not be afforded the benefit of suspension or deferment of sentence.
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(e) No person shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in their possession any stun
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gun or electronic dart gun if that person is prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to §11-
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47-5, or has, in this state or elsewhere, entered a plea of nolo contendere to or been convicted of a
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felony.
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SECTION 4. 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 provide that a person over the age of eighteen (18) years can purchase and
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possess a stun gun or electronic dart gun and also prohibits the sale of a stun gun or electronic dart
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gun to any person under the age of eighteen (18) years. It would also criminalize the use of a stun
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gun or electronic dart gun in any criminal offense or the use of a stun gun or electronic dart gun
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against any police officer engaged in the execution of their duty.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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