Criminal Justice (Civil Rights)

This bill amends Massachusetts law to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and operation of robotic devices equipped with weapons, while allowing exceptions for law enforcement, the military, and specific testing or educational uses. It establishes strict penalties for violating these rules, including mandatory prison sentences without the possibility of probation or parole, and criminalizes using such robots to threaten, harass, or physically restrain individuals. Additionally, the legislation requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before deploying armed robots on private property or for surveillance, mandates quarterly public reporting on their use, and grants individuals the right to sue for damages if the law is violated.

This bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, or operation of robotic devices (like drones) equipped with weapons (e.g., guns, lasers, explosives), with penalties including mandatory minimum prison sentences. It also bans using robots to threaten, harass, or physically restrain people. Key exemptions include military/defense uses (Department of Defense, National Guard, defense contractors under specific waivers) and law enforcement actions for bomb disposal, property destruction in emergencies, or training. The bill requires law enforcement to obtain warrants for robot deployments on private property or for surveillance, document all uses quarterly, and report publicly. It also allows civil lawsuits for violations and mandates public reporting of law enforcement robot usage.