The bill establishes the crime of possession of a stolen firearm or stolen ammunition, defining the offense as knowingly receiving, possessing, concealing, storing, bartering, selling, or disposing of such items. A conviction for this offense carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to 10 years. Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to include possession of a stolen firearm or stolen ammunition as a serious offense that can lead to prosecution in district court for youth aged 16 and older, thereby expanding the scope of offenses that can be treated with adult-level penalties.

Furthermore, the bill amends sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate the new offense into the definitions of serious crimes that can be prosecuted in district court, specifically under sections 41-5-206 and 45-8-405. The inclusion of this offense in the list of serious crimes reflects a legislative intent to address the issue of stolen firearms and ammunition more rigorously, particularly in the context of youth offenders. The bill also includes a codification instruction to ensure that the new section is integrated into the existing legal framework.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 41-5-206, 45-8-405
HB0493_1(1): 41-5-206, 45-8-405
HB0493_1(2): 41-5-206, 45-8-405
HB0493_1(3): 41-5-206, 45-8-405
HB0493_1(4): 41-5-206, 45-8-405
HB0493_1(5): 41-5-206, 45-8-405
HB0493_1: 41-5-206, 45-8-405