The bill amends the General Laws in Chapter 11-47, titled "Weapons," to include new definitions and regulations regarding stun guns and electronic dart guns. It introduces definitions for "electronic dart gun" as a handheld device that transmits an electrical current via steel or metal prongs, and "stun gun" as a battery-powered handheld device that transmits an electric charge while in contact with a person.
The bill specifies that individuals aged eighteen and over may purchase stun guns and electronic dart guns, and it prohibits the sale of these devices to anyone under eighteen, establishing that violations of this provision are felonies punishable by up to five years of imprisonment.
Additionally, the bill criminalizes the use of stun guns or electronic dart guns in the commission of a crime, with penalties including fines of up to ten thousand dollars or imprisonment for up to ten years. It also specifically prohibits the use of these devices against police officers engaged in their duties, with similar penalties.
Furthermore, the bill states that individuals prohibited from possessing firearms cannot own, carry, or transport stun guns or electronic dart guns. It removes the term "stun-gun" from the list of prohibited weapons in certain contexts and adds a new section outlining the legal framework for the purchase, possession, and use of stun guns and electronic dart guns. The act is set to take effect upon passage.