H 8070Non-Violent Crime Penalties

Criminal Offenses - Weapons

This bill permits college students, professors, and employees to carry stun guns or pepper spray for self-defense.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends Rhode Island's existing weapons laws to create a specific exception for individuals associated with higher education institutions. Currently, the possession of items like stun guns is generally prohibited for the public. This bill allows students, professors, and employees of any public or private college or university to legally carry and possess stun guns or pepper spray. The bill stipulates that these items may only be possessed for the purpose of self-defense.

For younger readers

There are laws that say people cannot carry certain dangerous things, like stun guns that shock people. This new rule changes that for people who go to college or work at a college. It says that college students and teachers are allowed to carry stun guns or pepper spray with them. They are only allowed to have these things to protect themselves if someone tries to hurt them. If a person does not go to college or work there, they are still not allowed to have these things.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

College StudentsUniversity ProfessorsUniversity EmployeesCampus SecurityParents of Students

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Empowers vulnerable populations on college campuses, such as women and LGBTQ+ individuals, with non-lethal tools to protect themselves against sexual assault and hate crimes.
Promotes the use of less-than-lethal alternatives like pepper spray and stun guns, potentially reducing the reliance on firearms or more dangerous weapons for self-defense.
Enhances the personal safety and agency of university staff and students who work or study during late hours, addressing security gaps without necessarily increasing police presence.
Increases the presence of weapons in educational environments, which could lead to accidental injuries, misuse during campus conflicts, or escalation of non-violent disputes.
Creates an unequal system where those with the privilege of attending or working at a university are granted self-defense rights that are still criminalized for the general public and marginalized communities outside of academia.
Risks the potential for these weapons to be used disproportionately against student protesters or minority groups on campus under the subjective claim of self-defense.

For Conservatives

Restores the individual right to self-defense for law-abiding students and faculty, reducing reliance on the government for personal protection.
Deters violent crime and predatory behavior on campuses by increasing the likelihood that potential victims are equipped to defend themselves.
Reduces government overreach by removing criminal penalties for possessing common, non-lethal defensive tools.
Establishes a "special class" of citizens, granting rights to the academic elite while continuing to deny the same self-defense rights to the working-class general public.
Fails to fully embrace the Second Amendment by limiting the exemption to less effective non-lethal weapons rather than allowing concealed carry of firearms for maximum protection.
Creates potential loopholes and enforcement confusion regarding who qualifies as an "employee," potentially hindering law enforcement efforts to maintain order.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 5 additions

SECTION 1. Section 11-47-42 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended to read as follows: 11-47-42. Weapons other than firearms prohibited. (a)(1) No person shall carry or possess or attempt to use against another any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slingshot, billy, sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles, slap glove, bludgeon, stun-gun, or the so called “Kung-Fu” weapons; provided, however, that any student, professor, or other employee of any public or private college or university, may carry, possess and have in their custody, possession and/or under their control, a stun-gun or pepper spray for purposes of self-defense.

(2) No person shall with intent to use unlawfully against another, carry or possess a crossbow, dagger, dirk, stiletto, sword-in-cane, bowie knife, or other similar weapon designed to cut and stab another.

(3) No person shall wear or carry concealed upon his person, any of the above-mentioned instruments or weapons, or any razor, or knife of any description having a blade of more than three

(3) inches in length measuring from the end of the handle where the blade is attached to the end of the blade, or other weapon of like kind or description. Any person violating the provisions of these subsections shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, and the weapon so found shall be confiscated. Any person violating the provisions of these subsections while he or she is incarcerated within the confines of the adult correctional institutions shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five (5) years, or both, and the weapon so found shall be confiscated.

(b) No person shall sell to a person under eighteen (18) years of age, without the written authorization of the minor’s parent or legal guardian, any stink bomb, blackjack, slingshot, bill, sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles, slap glove, bludgeon, stungun, paint ball gun, so called “kung- fu” weapons, dagger, dirk, stiletto, sword-in-cane, bowie knife, razor, or knife of any description having a blade of more than three inches (3″) in length as described in subsection (a) of this section, or any multi-pronged star with sharpened edges designed to be used as a weapon and commonly known as a Chinese throwing star, except that an individual who is actually engaged in the instruction of martial arts and licensed under § 5-43-1 [repealed] may carry and possess any multi- pronged star with sharpened edges for the sole purpose of instructional use. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five (5) years, or both, and the weapons so found shall be confiscated.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.