Rhode Island Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No* | No** |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | Yes |
* Application required and 7-day waiting period. ** Safety course and application required and 7-day waiting period. The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | No Law |
No-Net Loss | No Legislation |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | Rights Restricted-Very Limited Issue |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | None |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | No Law |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Purchase
A person must be 18 years old and not be prohibited by state and federal law from possessing a firearm to purchase a rifle or a shotgun. MORE |
Possession
There are no state licensing requirements for the possession of rifles, shotguns, and handguns by adults. It is unlawful for a minor under the age of 18 to possess and use any firearm or ammunition, unless he has a firearm permit and is at an approved rifle range or camp and is in the presence of a qualified adult. MORE |
Carrying
It is unlawful to carry a handgun on or about one’s person or in any vehicle or conveyance without a license to carry. Texas only recognizes permits issued by the Rhode Island Attorney General. MORE |
Preemption
The control of firearms, ammunition, or their component parts regarding their ownership, possession, transportation, carrying, transfer, sale, purchase, purchase delay, licensing, registration, and taxation shall rest solely with the state, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-58 (2002) |
Machine Guns
It is unlawful to manufacture, sell, purchase or possess a machine gun. However, the attorney general may issue a license to manufacture and sell machine guns and machine gun parts. The attorney general may also issue a license to a bank or carrier (of money, securities, or valuables) permitting them to possess machine guns. MORE |
Antiques and Replicas
Antique firearms unsuitable for use and collections of firearms maintained for educational or scientific purposes are exempt from the above regulations. |
Range Protection
R.I. GEN. LAWS. § 11-47-62 (2011) |
Miscellaneous
Loss or theft of a firearm must be reported to the local law enforcement agency within 24 hours of the discovery of the loss or theft. MORE |
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
The concealed-gun permit legislation championed by local allies of the National Rifle Association that brought last year’s legislative ...
Monday, April 24, 2017
On Tuesday, April 24, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a marathon hearing on several anti-gun bills.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Lawmakers are several weeks into their 2017 session, and it didn’t take long for anti-gun politicians to recycle ...
Friday, July 1, 2016
Governor Raimondo has signed another 13 bills into law, including a gun-control measure that advocates say is a ...
Friday, June 24, 2016
The sun was rising on Federal Hill early last Saturday morning as the final gavels dropped in both ...
Friday, June 10, 2016
Law enforcement officers seize privately-owned firearms in a variety of situations. The problem, as we’ve written about previously, is ...
Monday, April 25, 2016
Tomorrow, April 26, the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet to consider a full agenda including over a dozen gun bills.
Friday, March 25, 2016
This week, the Statehouse was filled with Second Amendment supporters who showed up for a late afternoon rally ...
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
More than 400 people poured through the doors of the Rhode Island State House on Tuesday with one ...
Monday, March 21, 2016
Rhode Island lawmakers are considering more than a dozen bills that would either strengthen or relax gun restrictions ...