H 8068Violent Crime Penalties

Criminal Offenses - Weapons

This bill makes it illegal for minors to possess firearms without supervision, regardless of whether they are using them.

Held for study

Population
Affected

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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the state's weapons laws regarding minors. Currently, the law prohibits a person under eighteen from possessing *and* using a firearm without supervision. This bill removes the words "and use," meaning it would be illegal for a minor to simply possess a firearm, regardless of whether they are actively using it. Exceptions remain for activities like hunting, target shooting, and ROTC, provided there is supervision. It also adds a definition for a "qualified adult" supervisor, requiring them to be at least twenty-one years old and legally permitted to possess the firearm.

For younger readers

There is a rule about kids and guns. Right now, the rule says kids cannot have *and* use a gun without a grown-up watching them. This new rule changes it so kids cannot have a gun at all without a grown-up watching them, even if they aren't shooting it. It allows kids to have guns for things like target practice or hunting if a safe adult is there. It also says the adult watching them must be at least 21 years old and allowed to own a gun.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Minors (under 18)Parents and GuardiansGun OwnersLaw EnforcementShooting Ranges and Camps

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Increases community safety by closing a loophole that allowed minors to possess firearms unsupervised provided they were not actively "using" them.
Ensures that adults supervising minors with firearms are vetted by age and legal status, potentially reducing accidental shootings or negligence.
Aligns with gun safety advocacy goals to restrict youth access to dangerous weapons without strictly necessary supervision.
Expands the criminal code to penalize mere possession by minors, which could lead to increased interactions between youth and the criminal justice system.
May disproportionately affect minority youth who are already policed more heavily for possession offenses compared to their peers.
Focuses on penalizing behavior rather than addressing the root causes of why a minor might seek to possess a firearm unsupervised.

For Conservatives

Promotes responsible gun ownership by codifying that minors must be under the supervision of a qualified, law-abiding adult.
Clarifies the law for police officers, making it easier to intervene when a minor is found with a weapon, thereby supporting law and order.
Preserves the tradition of hunting and shooting sports by maintaining clear exceptions for supervised training and participation.
Represents an expansion of state restriction on firearms, removing the distinction between active use and passive possession.
Could be interpreted as government overreach into how families choose to introduce firearms and responsibility to their children.
Creates a strict liability for possession that might criminalize a minor transporting a firearm for legitimate purposes if a technicality regarding the "qualified adult" is not met.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 1 addition · 1 deletion

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 11-47-33 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended to read as follows: 11-47-33. Possession of firearms by minors.

(a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to possess ~~and use~~ any firearm unless the person is in the presence of a parent or guardian or supervising adult at any regular and recognized camp or rifle range approved by the Rhode Island state police or by the chief of police of the city or town in which the camp or rifle range is located; provided, that this provision shall not apply to minors engaged in lawful hunting activity under the supervision of a parent or guardian or qualified adult, minors participating in Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, ceremonial parade activities, competitive and target shooting, participants in state militia activities and minors participating in a basic firearms education program; provided, further, that a person under eighteen (18) years of age may carry a firearm, unloaded, in a suitable case to and from his or her home and the camp or range and from the camp or range to other camp or range when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or supervising adult.

(b) For purposes of this section only, “qualified adult” means any person twenty-one (21) years of age or older and permitted by law to possess and use the firearm.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.