AB 817

Current law prohibits a person from possessing a short-barreled rifle or

shotgun. Any person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. A

“short-barreled rifle” is a rifle with a barrel that is less than 16 inches long or a rifle

that is less than 26 inches long, and a “short-barreled shotgun” is a shotgun with a

barrel that is less than 18 inches long or a shotgun that is less than 26 inches long.

Current law prohibits a person who is under 18 years old from possessing a

dangerous weapon, including a firearm. A person who violates the prohibition is

guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Current law provides exceptions for a person under

18 years old if any of the following apply: the person is using the firearm for target

practice or for a course of instruction in how to use a firearm and the person is under

adult supervision, the person is a member of the armed forces or national guard and

is in the line of duty, or the dangerous weapon is a rifle or shotgun that is not a

short-barreled rifle or a short-barreled shotgun and the person is in compliance with

hunting laws.

This bill clarifies the last exception so that it applies only to a person under 18

who is legally hunting and who is in compliance with hunting laws. The bill further

clarifies that a person under 18 who violates the prohibition against possessing a

short-barreled rifle or shotgun voids the exceptions discussed above for target

practice or instruction or for hunting.