Trespass a Felony ?

[JJD]

According to USSA.
The Rhode Island legislature is considering a bill that would make trespassing while deer hunting a felony.

While honest mistakes are made, stiffer penalties might help if offered at the judges discretion.  However, repeat offenders need something more, maybe like 3 strikes and ya lose  privileges for 10 yrs.

OR

Fit nuisance trespassers with radio collars and relocate them to their normal habitat (down town), if they return, deal with them "accordingly".
 

[returnofsid]

I wonder if the felony is the result of a firearm being involved in the initial "crime."  In Washington, most crimes committed, while in the possession of a firearm, can result in a "weapons enhancement."  If this is the case, I wonder if the trespassing would result in a felony, if the hunter was archery hunting...

[JJD]

Link to article; 
http://www.ussportsmen.org/uncategorized/rhode-island-bill-makes-deer-hunting-without-permission-a-felony/

The bill was not posted in its entirety in the article, it just says trespassing deer hunters.
So maybe anyone hunting anything else in RI would be exempt?

Having a firearm in possession while hunting is legal (as long as you are not a felon, have proper lic and tags etc.) and it is not involved in the actual commission of a crime (used to intimidate or harm), weapons enhanced is hard to make stick.  Or so the county prosecutor tells me.