H.B. 14
         DISCHARGE OF FIREARM AMENDMENTS

house committee Amendments

Amendment 1 January 25, 2008 2:23 pm



Representative Carl Wimmer proposes the following amendments:

1.    Page 2, Line 32 :    

             32          76-10-508, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 220
  ENACTS:

     Section 76-10-508.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953  


2.    Page 3, Lines 65 through 67 :    

             65          (x) any offense specified in Part 4, Uniform Commercial Driver License Act, that
             66      requires disqualification;
             67          (xi) a felony violation of Section 76-10-508
  or 76-10-508.1       involving discharging or allowing the


3.    Page 3, Lines 83 through 86 :    

             83          (b) The division shall immediately revoke the license of a person upon receiving a
             84      record of an adjudication under Title 78, Chapter 3a, Juvenile Court Act of 1996, for [any of
             85      the following offenses]:
             86          (i) a felony violation of Section 76-10-508
  or 76-10-508.1       involving discharging or allowing the


4.    Page 6, Lines 165 through 166 :    

             165          (v) a felony violation of [Subsection ] Section 76-10-508 [(2)]
  or 76-10-508.1       regarding discharge of a

             166      firearm or dangerous weapon.

5.    Page 8, Lines 226 through 227 :    

             226          (b) It
{   shall be   }        is       a defense to any      {   [   } charge for violating      {   ]   }      {   misdemeanor violation of   } this

             227      section that the person being accused had actual permission of the owner or person in charge of

6.    Page 8, Line 229 through Page 9, Line 250 :    

             229          (2)
{   [   } A      {   ]   }      {   Except as provided in Subsection (3), a   } violation of any provision of [this

             230      section] Subsection (1) is a class B misdemeanor [unless the actor discharges].
             231          
{   (3) A person commits a felony offense subject to penalty under Subsection (4) if the


             232
     person violates any provision of Subsection (1) by discharging   }
{   a firearm under any of the

             233      following circumstances not amounting to criminal homicide or attempted criminal homicide  
}
[,
             234      in which case it is a third degree felony and the convicted person shall be sentenced to an
             235      enhanced minimum term of three years in prison]
{   :

             236          (a) the actor discharges a firearm in the direction of any person or persons, knowing or
             237      having reason to believe that any person may be endangered;
             238          (b) the actor, with intent to intimidate or harass another or with intent to damage a
             239      habitable structure as defined in Subsection 76-6-101 (2), discharges a firearm in the direction
             240      of any building; or
             241          (c) the actor, with intent to intimidate or harass another, discharges a firearm in the
             242      direction of any vehicle.  
}

             243          
{   (4) A violation under Subsection (3):

             244          (a) is a felony of the third degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of not less
             245      than three years nor more than five years, except as provided in Subsection (4)(b) or (c);
             246          (b) that results in bodily injury to another is a felony of the second degree, punishable
             247      by imprisonment for a term of not less than three years nor more than 15 years, except as
             248      provided in Subsection (4)(c); or
             249          (c) that results in serious bodily injury to another is a first degree felony, punishable by
             250      imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and which may be for life.  
}


7.    Page 9, Lines 251 through 259 :    

             251          
{   [   } (3)      {   ]   }      {   (5)   }      {   The   }        In addition to any other penalties, the       court shall:

             252          (a) notify the Driver License Division of the conviction for purposes of any revocation,
             253      denial, suspension, or disqualification of a driver license under [Section ] Subsection
             254      53-3-220 (1)(a)(xi); and
             255          (b) specify in court at the time of sentencing the length of the revocation under
             256      Subsection 53-3-225 (1)(c).
             257          
{   [   } (4)      {   ]   }      {   (6)   } This section does not apply to a person who:

             258          (a) [who] discharges any kind of firearm when that person is in lawful defense of self
             259      or others; [or]

8.    Page 9, Lines 265 through 266 :    

             265      stop at a location other than within the boundaries of the firing range or training ground
             266      described in Subsection
{   (6)   }        (4)       (c)(i);


9.    Page 9, Line 270 :    

             270          (v) the discharge is not made in violation of Subsection
{   (3)   }        (1)       .

    
  Section 4. Section 76-10-508.1 is enacted to read:      


            76-10-508.1. Felony Discharge of a firearm _ Penalties.

    (1) Except as provided under Subsection (2) or (3), a person who discharges a firearm under any of the circumstances not amounting to criminal homicide or attempted criminal homicide is guilty of a third degree felony punishable by imprisonment for a term of not less than three years nor more than five years if:
    (a) the actor discharges a firearm in the direction of any person or persons, knowing or having reason to believe that any person may be endangered by the discharge of the firearm;
    (b) the actor, with intent to intimidate or harass another or with intent to damage a habitable structure as defined in Section 76-6-101, discharges a firearm in the direction of any person or habitable structure; or
    (c) the actor, with intent to intimidate or harass another, discharges a firearm in the direction of any vehicle.
    (2) A violation of Subsection (1) which causes injury to any person is a second degree felony punishable by imprisonment for a term of not less than three years nor more than fifteen years.
    (3) A violation of Subsection (1) which causes serious bodily injury to any person is a first degree felony.
    (4) In addition to any other penalties for a violation of this section, the court shall:
    (a) notify the Driver License Division of the conviction for purposes of any revocation, denial, suspension, or disqualification of a driver license under Subsection 53-3-220(1)(a)(xi); and
    (b) specify in court at the time of sentencing the length of the revocation under Subsection 53-3-225(1)(c).
    (5) This section does not apply to a person:
    (a) who discharges any kind of firearm when that person is in lawful defense of self or others;
    (b) who is performing official duties as provided in Sections 23-20-1.5 or 76-10-523 or as otherwise authorized by law;
    (c) discharges a dangerous weapon or firearm from an automobile or other vehicle, if:
    (i) the discharge occurs at a firing range or training ground;
    (ii) at no time after the discharge does the projectile that is discharged cross over or stop at a location other than within the boundaries of the firing range or training ground described in Subsection (c)(i);
    (iii) the discharge is made as practice or training for a lawful purpose;
    (iv) the discharge and the location, time, and manner of the discharge are approved by the owner or operator of the firing range or training ground prior to the discharge; and
    (v) the discharge is not made in violation of Subsection (1).  



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