(a)  Every person who shall steal any firearm shall be deemed guilty of larceny. “Firearm”, as utilized in this section only, shall not apply to an air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun,” or “BB gun.” Every person violating the provisions of this section shall be sentenced, upon conviction, to not less than one year nor more than ten (10) years.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-5.1

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Firearm: includes any machine gun, pistol, rifle, air rifle, air pistol, "blank gun" "BB gun" or other instrument from which steel or metal projectiles are propelled, or that may readily be converted to expel a projectile, except crossbows, recurve, compound, or longbows, and except instruments propelling projectiles that are designed or normally used for a primary purpose other than as a weapon. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-2
  • Person: includes an individual, partnership, firm, association, or corporation. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-2
  • Pistol: includes any pistol or revolver, and any shotgun, rifle, or similar weapon with overall length less than twenty-six inches (26?), but does not include any pistol or revolver designed for the use of blank cartridges only. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-2
  • Sell: includes let or hire, give, lend, and transfer, and "purchase" includes hire, accept, and borrow, and "purchasing" shall be construed accordingly. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-2

(b)  No person shall steal any firearm as defined in this section and then sell, lend, or transfer the firearm or firearms. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years nor more than twenty (20) years, and the sentence shall be consecutive to any other sentence he or she may receive or is serving.

History of Section.
P.L. 1975, ch. 278, § 2; P.L. 1990, ch. 278, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 158, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 285, § 1.