Sponsor: Senator Sanes Subject: An Act amending Title 14 V.I.C., chapter 113, to prohibit the possession of semi-automatic and automatic weapons

1. COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELAND SECURITY
AND JUSTICE
BILL NO. 28-0057_
Twenty-Eighth Legislature Of The Virgin Islands
May 21, 2009
An Act amending title 14 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 113, to prohibit the possession of semi automatic
and automatic weapons
PROPOSED BY: Senator Sammuel Sanes
1 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands:
2 SECTION 1. Title 14 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 113, section 2253 is amended as follows:
3 1. In subsection (d) by adding paragraphs (4) & (5) to read:
4 (4) “Assault rifle” means any firearm, as defined in title 23, chapter 5, section 451 (d) of this
5 Code that has the capacity to switch between semiautomatic and fully automatic fire and when
6 fired, extracts the spent casing and loads the next round into the chamber, ready to fire.
7 (5) “Conversion kit” means any part or combination of parts designed and intended for use in
8 converting any firearm into a semiautomatic assault weapon, and any combination of parts from
9 which a semiautomatic assault weapon can be assembled if the parts are in the possession or
10 under the control of a person.

2. —2—
1 2. by adding subsection (e) to read:
2 (e) Whoever, unless otherwise authorized by law, has, possesses, bears, transport or carries,
3 either openly or concealed, on or about his person, or under his control in any vehicle of any
4 description any assault rifle as defined in subsection (d) (4) or any weapon that can be converted
5 into an assault weapon and a conversion kit as defined in subsection (d) (5) of this section,
6 loaded or unloaded, may be arrested without warrant, and shall be sentenced to imprisonment of
7 not less than two years nor more than seven years and shall be fined not more than $25,000,
8 except that if such person shall have been convicted of a felony in any state, territory or federal
9 court of the United States, or if such assault rifle or an imitation thereof was held, possessed,
10 borne, transported by or under the proximate control of such person during the commission or
11 attempted commission of a crime of violence, as defined in subsection (d) (1), then such person
12 shall be sentenced to imprisonment of not less than 15 years nor more than 20 years and fined
13 not more than $50,000. The foregoing applicable penalties provided for violation of this section
14 shall be in addition to the penalty provided for the commission of, or attempt to commit, the
15 crime of violence.
16 BILL SUMMARY
17 This Bill amends title 14 Virgin Islands Code to provide a definition of “assault rifle” and
18 a “conversion kit” and provides specific penalties for the possession and use of such a firearm.
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23 BR09-0653/May 20, 2009
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