S-1258.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5921

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Pelz, C. Anderson, Wojahn, Prentice, Fairley, Kohl and Franklin

Read first time 02/14/95.  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade.

Outlawing possession of cartridges designed to penetrate life-saving devices.

    AN ACT Relating to penetration bullets; adding a new section to chapter 9.41 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 9.41 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) No person may possess a cartridge that includes a bullet made of material that is designed or manufactured in such a manner that its contents and construction will cause the bullet to penetrate life-saving devices.  This section does not apply to members of law enforcement or national or state military personnel.

    (2) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

    (a) "Cartridge" means a device designed to be used in a firearm, containing a bullet, powder, and igniting mechanism, and that expels a projectile through the barrel of a firearm upon ignition.

    (b) "Bullet" means the projectile expelled from a cartridge upon ignition of the powder.

    (c) "Life-saving devices" means items that are worn by law enforcement officers and are designed to prevent or impede the passage of bullets that are fired at persons wearing the device, but shall not include helmets, uniforms, or customary items of clothing.

    (3) The chief of the Washington state patrol shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

    (4) Any person violating this section is guilty of a class C felony, punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

                            --- END ---