§ 18A — Dangerous weapon; assault in dwelling house; punishment

Section 18A. Whoever, being armed with a dangerous weapon, enters a dwelling house and while therein assaults another with intent to commit a felony shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life, or for a term of not less than ten years. No person imprisoned under this paragraph shall be eligible for parole in less than five years.[ Second paragraph effective until October 2, 2024. For text effective October 2, 2024, see below.]Whoever, being armed with a dangerous weapon defined as a firearm, shotgun, rifle or assault weapon, enters a dwelling house and while therein assaults another with intent to commit a felony shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than ten years. Such person shall not be eligible for parole prior to the expiration of ten years.[ Second paragraph as amended by 2024, 135, Sec. 98 effective October 2, 2024. For text effective until October 2, 2024, see above.]Whoever, being armed with a dangerous weapon defined as a firearm, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140, enters a dwelling house and while therein assaults another with intent to commit a felony shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than ten years. Such person shall not be eligible for parole prior to the expiration of ten years.