H-2896.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2358

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Johanson, Long, Campbell, Shin, Wineberry and Caver

Read first time 01/14/94.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Restricting possession of pistols by persons under twenty-one.

    AN ACT Relating to possession of pistols by persons under twenty-one years of age; amending RCW 9.41.240; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 9.41.240 and 1971 c 34 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) No minor under the age of fourteen years shall handle or have in his or her possession or under his or her control, except while accompanied by or under the immediate charge of his or her parent or guardian or other adult approved for the purpose of this section by the parent or guardian, or while under the supervision of a certified safety instructor at an established gun range or firearm training class, any firearm of any kind for hunting or target practice or for other purposes.  ((Every)) Unless subsection (2) of this section applies, a person violating any of the foregoing provisions, or aiding or knowingly permitting any such minor to violate the same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(2) A parent or guardian who, with criminal negligence, permits his or her child under the age of twenty-one years to possess a pistol, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.  This subsection does not apply while the child is accompanied by the parent or guardian, or other adult approved for the purpose of this section by the parent or guardian, or while the child is under the supervision of a certified safety instructor at an established gun range or firearm training class.

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