Any person or persons who, with the use of any firearms or any other dangerous weapons, whether the firearm is loaded or not, or who uses a blank or imitation firearm capable of raising in the mind of the one threatened with such device a fear that it is a real firearm, attempts to rob or robs any person or persons, or who robs or attempts to rob any place of business, residence or banking institution or any other place inhabited or attended by any person or persons at any time, either day or night, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction therefor, shall suffer punishment by imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary, or for a period of time of not less than five (5) years, at the discretion of the court, or the jury trying the same.

Upon conviction therefor, any person guilty of three separate and distinct felonies, in violation of this section shall suffer punishment by imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary, or for a period of time of not less than ten (10) years, and it is mandatory upon the court to impose no less than the minimum sentence of ten (10) years. The sentence imposed upon such person shall not be reduced to less than ten (10) calendar years, nor suspended, nor shall any person be eligible for probation or parole or receive any deduction from his sentence for good conduct until he shall have served ten (10) calendar years of such sentence.

Added by Laws 1923, c. 85, p. 150, § 1. Amended by Laws 1925, c. 44, p. 71, § 1; Laws 1973, c. 76, § 1, emerg. eff. April 30, 1973; Laws 1982, c. 173, § 2, emerg. eff. April 16, 1982; Laws 1997, c. 133, § 243, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 147, eff. July 1, 1999.

NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 243 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.