Chap. 0353 An Act relative to the use of firearms.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows:
Chapter 131 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 85 the following three sections: - Section 85A. Whoever uses any firearm, bow and arrow or other weapon in a careless or negligent manner so as to cause bodily injury to another while engaged in hunting, target practice or other field sport, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than sixty days, or both. Any person causing injury or death to any other person by reason of the use of any firearm, bow and arrow or other weapon and any person having knowledge of such injury or death shall immediately report the same to the state or local police who shall in turn submit a copy of such report to the division of law enforcement.
Any person convicted of any violation of the first sentence of this section or any person failing to make the report required by this section who is the holder of any hunting or sporting license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall forthwith lose any rights thereunder, and said license shall be surrendered to any officer empowered to enforce the provisions of this chapter and no other hunting or sporting license shall be granted to him for a period of five years.
Section 85B. Whoever uses any firearm, bow and arrow or other weapon or article in a careless or negligent manner so as to cause damage to property or livestock of another, or commits any act of vandalism while so engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping or target practice shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, and shall be liable in tort to the owner for loss of such property for the
amount of the damage, which may be in addition to any other penalty imposed by any other provision of law.
Section 85C. Whoever during the open season on deer hunts or enters the woodlands or fields of the commonwealth for the purpose of hunting shall wear on his head or about his shoulders or back some form of clothing the color of which shall be red or upon such clothing shall affix in a conspicuous manner a material the color of which shall be red. Any violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars.
Approved May 31, 1951.