Rhode Island Gun Laws

It is unlawful to carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or on or about the person, whether visible or concealed, without a license or permit issued under §§ 11-47-11, 11-47-12, or 11-47-18, except in one's dwelling, place of business, or on owned land.

"No person shall, without a license or permit issued as provided in §§ 11-47-11, 11-47-12, and 11-47-18, carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8 statute

The licensing authorities of any city or town shall issue a four-year license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver to a person 21 years of age or older who is a suitable person and has a bona fide residence or place of business in the city or town (or is a U.S. resident with a valid permit from another state). The license is valid for four years from date of issue.

"The licensing authorities of any city or town shall, upon application of any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over... issue a license or permit to the person to carry concealed upon his or her person a pistol or revolver... for four (4) years from date of issue."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-11 statute

The Attorney General may issue a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver upon a proper showing of need to a person twenty-one years of age or older. This discretionary AG permit operates alongside the shall-issue local pathway under § 11-47-11.

"The attorney general may issue a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver, concealed or otherwise, upon his or her person to any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over... upon a proper showing of need."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-18 statute

A fee of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be charged for each license or permit issued under chapter 11-47, and every license or permit is valid for four years from the date of issue unless sooner revoked. Fees support the city, town, or state of Rhode Island. This is the section cross-referenced alongside §§ 11-47-11 and 11-47-18 in the § 11-47-8 carry-license requirement.

"A fee of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be charged and shall be paid for each license or permit to the licensing authority issuing it. Every license or permit shall be valid for four (4) years from the date when issued unless sooner revoked."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-12 statute

Before issuance of a concealed-carry license, the applicant must qualify by firing a score of at least 195 out of 300 with thirty consecutive rounds at 25 yards on the army 'L' target in slow fire (three 10-shot strings, ten minutes per string). The course is administered by certified instructors, NRA-certified instructors, state police, or persons designated by the Attorney General.

"No person shall be issued a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver concealed upon his or her person until he or she has presented certification... that he or she has qualified... [with] a score of one hundred ninety-five (195) or better out of a possible score of three hundred (300) with thirty (30) consecutive rounds at a distance of twenty-five (25) yards."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-15 (qualification course) statute

Following NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022), the Rhode Island Attorney General confirmed that municipal licensing authorities must issue concealed-carry permits to qualified, suitable applicants under § 11-47-11 without requiring a showing of need, and that the dual permitting framework remains constitutional. The AG may continue to issue discretionary permits under § 11-47-18 upon a 'proper showing of need.'

"Rhode Island's concealed-carry permitting framework is constitutional and unimpacted by the Bruen decision."

Rhode Island AG Bruen Guidance — AG 2022-01 ag

Open carry of a pistol or revolver without a permit is prohibited under § 11-47-8, which forbids carry 'whether visible or concealed.' Only the AG permit under § 11-47-18 expressly authorizes carry that is 'concealed or otherwise'; the shall-issue local permit under § 11-47-11 by its text authorizes concealed carry only.

"carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8 (as construed with § 11-47-11/§ 11-47-18) statute

Carrying a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance without a Rhode Island permit is a felony punishable by 1 to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000. The statute does not distinguish glove box, console, or trunk carriage for persons without a Rhode Island permit; all such carriage requires a license or permit issued under § 11-47-11, 11-47-12, or 11-47-18.

"No person shall... carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8(a) statute

Out-of-state license holders may transport firearms through Rhode Island without intent to remain, but Rhode Island does not generally recognize other states' permits for carry within the state. A non-resident with an out-of-state permit cannot carry concealed in Rhode Island without obtaining a Rhode Island permit.

"carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8 (out-of-state transport exception) statute

Rhode Island does not honor any out-of-state concealed-carry permits. Chapter 11-47 contains no provision authorizing recognition of permits issued by other states for carry within Rhode Island; only out-of-state permit holders' through-transport (no intent to remain) is implicitly accommodated through other carry exceptions.

"No person shall, without a license or permit issued as provided in §§ 11-47-11, 11-47-12, and 11-47-18, carry a pistol or revolver."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8 (no reciprocity provision) statute

Rhode Island codifies a castle doctrine: a person who is in a dwelling and against whom another commits a criminal offense enumerated in §§ 11-8-2 through 11-8-6 (such as breaking and entering) is rebuttably presumed to have acted by reasonable means in self-defense and has no duty to retreat from the offender.

"it shall be rebuttably presumed as a matter of law in any civil or criminal proceeding that the owner, tenant, or occupier of the place where the offense was committed acted by reasonable means in self-defense... There shall be no duty on the part of an owner, tenant, or occupier to retreat from any person engaged in the commission of any criminal offense enumerated in §§ 11-8-2 — 11-8-6."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-8 statute

Criminalizes breaking and entering any dwelling house or apartment, at any time of day or night, whether occupied or not. Penalty is 2-10 years' imprisonment (first offense) or 4-15 years (subsequent). This is the first of the §§ 11-8-2 through 11-8-6 offense range that triggers the no-duty-to-retreat presumption in § 11-8-8.

"Every person who shall break and enter at any time of the day or night any dwelling house or apartment, whether the dwelling house or apartment is occupied or not."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-2 (breaking and entering a dwelling) statute

Criminalizes entering a dwelling at any time, or other buildings/ships in the daytime, with intent to commit murder, sexual assault, robbery, arson, or larceny. Penalty up to 10 years' imprisonment, fine up to $500, or both. Part of the offense range incorporated by § 11-8-8's castle-doctrine presumption.

"Every person who, with intent to commit murder, sexual assault, robbery, arson or larceny, shall enter any dwelling house or apartment at any time of the day or night."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-3 (entering dwelling with intent to commit specified felony) statute

Criminalizes breaking and entering any bank, shop, office, warehouse, or similar place with intent to commit murder, sexual assault, robbery, or larceny. Maximum penalty 10 years' imprisonment. Part of the offense range incorporated by § 11-8-8's castle-doctrine presumption.

"Every person who shall break and enter any bank, shop, office or warehouse... with intent to commit murder, sexual assault, robbery or larceny, shall be imprisoned not exceeding ten (10) years."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-4 (breaking and entering business or public building with felonious intent) statute

Criminalizes breaking and entering barns, stables, carriage houses, railroad cars, tractor trailer units, and similar structures with intent to commit larceny or any felony or misdemeanor. Maximum penalty 10 years' imprisonment. Part of the offense range incorporated by § 11-8-8's castle-doctrine presumption.

"Every person who shall break and enter or enter in the nighttime, with intent to commit larceny or any felony or misdemeanor."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-5 (breaking and entering other buildings or conveyances) statute

Criminalizes breaking and entering, or entering at night without breaking, any building or enclosure in which poultry is kept with intent to steal the birds. Penalty up to 5 years' imprisonment, fine up to $500, or both. This is the final section of the §§ 11-8-2 through 11-8-6 offense range incorporated by § 11-8-8's castle-doctrine presumption.

"Every person who breaks and enters, or enters in the nighttime without breaking, any building or enclosure in which are kept."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-6 (breaking and entering enclosure with intent to steal poultry) statute

Rhode Island has no stand-your-ground statute. The no-duty-to-retreat rule under § 11-8-8 is confined to owners, tenants, and occupiers in the dwelling/place; outside the home, Rhode Island case law preserves the traditional common-law duty to retreat when retreat may be safely accomplished before resorting to deadly force.

"There shall be no duty on the part of an owner, tenant, or occupier to retreat from any person engaged in the commission of any criminal offense enumerated in §§ 11-8-2 — 11-8-6."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-8 (scope limited to dwelling) statute

Rhode Island law contains no statutory duty for a permit holder to affirmatively inform a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a firearm during a traffic stop or other police encounter. Police may ask, and lawful answers are required, but no proactive 'duty to inform' statute exists in chapter 11-47.

"No person shall, without a license or permit issued as provided in §§ 11-47-11, 11-47-12, and 11-47-18, carry a pistol or revolver."

R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 11-47 (no statutory duty) statute

No person shall possess any firearm or other weapon on the grounds of a public or private elementary or secondary school. Violation is punishable by 1 to 5 years' imprisonment or a $500 to $5,000 fine. Exceptions exist for peace officers, certain retired law enforcement, sanctioned firearm instruction, ROTC, marksmanship events, and unloaded firearms locked inside a vehicle.

"No person shall have in his or her possession any firearm or other weapons on school grounds."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60 statute

Rhode Island requires all firearms to be stored 'in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged in order to render such firearm inoperable by any person other than the owner.' A first violation is a civil infraction with a fine up to $250; subsequent violations escalate to up to six months' imprisonment.

"a firearm... is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged in order to render such firearm inoperable by any person other than the owner."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60.1 (safe storage) statute

All handgun (pistol/revolver) sales in Rhode Island require completion of a state application form, a background check by the police authority, and a mandatory seven-day waiting period before delivery. The buyer must present a pistol/revolver safety certificate issued by the Department of Environmental Management after completing a 2-hour safety course or passing an objective test.

"no person shall deliver a pistol or revolver to a purchaser until seven (7) days shall have elapsed from twelve o'clock (12:00) noon of the day following the day of application for the purchase."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-35 statute

All rifle and shotgun sales also require a state application, police background check, and seven-day waiting period before delivery. Together with § 11-47-35, this creates a universal background-check requirement covering both handgun and long-gun transfers including private sales, with narrow exemptions for transfers between licensed dealers and to law enforcement.

"No person shall deliver a rifle or shotgun to a purchaser until seven (7) days shall have elapsed from twelve o'clock (12:00) noon of the day following the day of application."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-35.2 statute

Prohibits providing false information or fraudulent identity evidence when purchasing a shotgun, rifle, pistol, or revolver, or when applying for a carry license. Also prohibits straw purchases — knowingly acquiring firearms for persons barred from possession. First-violation penalty: up to $5,000 and/or five years' imprisonment; subsequent violations: up to $10,000 and/or ten years. Cross-referenced by § 11-47-37 as a disqualifying category.

"No person shall, in purchasing or otherwise securing delivery of a shotgun, rifle, pistol, or revolver... give false information."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-23 (false information / straw purchase) statute

Rhode Island raised the minimum age for the purchase of any firearm (handgun or long gun) from 18 to 21 effective June 21, 2022. The statute prohibits sale to any person under 21 except active-duty law enforcement, state marshals, correctional officers, and active-duty military members.

"No person shall sell a firearm to any person under the age of twenty-one (21) or to one who he or she has reasonable cause to believe falls under the provisions of § 11-47-5, § 11-47-6, § 11-47-7, or § 11-47-23."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-37 (2022 amendment) statute

Persons under guardianship, treatment, or confinement as mental incompetents, or adjudicated or under treatment/confinement as drug addicts, may not purchase, own, carry, transport, or possess any firearm. Cross-referenced by § 11-47-37, which prohibits sale of any firearm to a person reasonably believed to fall under this section.

"No person who is under guardianship or treatment or confinement by virtue of being a mental incompetent, or who has been adjudicated or is under treatment or confinement as a drug addict, shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in his or her possession or under his or her control any firearm."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-6 (prohibited persons — mental incompetent / drug addict) statute

Prohibits unnaturalized foreign-born persons who entered the United States in violation of federal law from purchasing, owning, carrying, transporting, or possessing any firearm. Cross-referenced by § 11-47-37, which prohibits firearm sale to a person reasonably believed to fall under this section.

"No unnaturalized foreign born person who entered the United States in violation of the laws of the United States... shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in his or her possession or under his or her control any firearm."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-7 (prohibited persons — unnaturalized foreign born) statute

The Attorney General's official guidance confirms that the firearm purchase age was raised from 18 to 21 effective June 21, 2022, and that ammunition sales to persons under 21 became restricted effective January 1, 2023, requiring buyers under 21 to present a pistol safety certificate or hunter education card.

"No person shall transfer, sell, or deliver any firearm to a purchaser who is under the age of 21."

Rhode Island Attorney General 2022 Firearms Legislation Guidance (AG 2022-02) ag

Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1)) sets the minimum age for purchasing a handgun from an FFL at 21 and a long gun from an FFL at 18. Rhode Island law exceeds this federal floor by requiring buyers of both handguns and long guns to be at least 21, with narrow exemptions for active-duty law enforcement and military.

"It shall be unlawful... to sell or deliver... any firearm or ammunition to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than eighteen years of age, and, if the firearm, or ammunition is other than a shotgun or rifle... is less than twenty-one years of age."

ATF — Federal Firearms Age Requirements atf

Rhode Island does not require general registration of firearms with the state. While background-check application forms under §§ 11-47-35 and 11-47-35.2 are submitted to local or state police for retention, the statute does not establish a centralized firearms registry. The voluntary certificate of possession under the 2025 AWB (§ 11-47.2-4) is the only registry-like mechanism, applies only to grandfathered assault weapons, and is expressly voluntary.

"The control of firearms, ammunition, or their component parts... shall rest solely with the state."

R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 11-47 (no registry provision) statute

Rhode Island's Extreme Risk Protection Order law, enacted in 2018, allows a law enforcement agency to petition the court for an order prohibiting a respondent from possessing or purchasing firearms upon credible information that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing imminent personal injury to self or others by access to a firearm.

"A petition for an extreme risk protection order shall be filed only by a law enforcement agency."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8.3-3 statute

A person who violates an extreme risk protection order, having actual notice of it, is guilty of a felony punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000. Justia mirror cross-verified against the official rilegislature.gov statute index for chapter 8-8.3.

"Any violation of an extreme risk protection order issued under this chapter of which the respondent has actual notice shall be a felony."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8.3-10 (ERPO penalties) statute

Effective July 1, 2026, no person shall manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, or possess an 'assault weapon' as defined by the act. The definition includes semi-automatic shotguns with fixed capacity over 6 rounds, semi-automatic rifles with fixed capacity over 10 rounds, and semi-automatic rifles/pistols that accept detachable magazines and have specified features (folding/telescoping stock, pistol grip, grenade launcher, barrel shroud, flash suppressor, threaded barrel, etc.). Violation is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

"Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, on or after July 1, 2026, no person shall manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, possess, or have under his or her control an assault weapon."

Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 11-47.2) statute

Assault weapons lawfully possessed (or for which a purchase was lawfully completed) before July 1, 2026 are 'grandfathered assault weapons' that may be retained. Owners may apply for a voluntary certificate of possession from the Rhode Island State Police or local police department; the certificate requires a $50 fee, fingerprint-based background check, and serves as evidence of lawful prior possession.

"A person, who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm and who, prior to July 1, 2026, lawfully possessed or lawfully completed a purchase for a grandfathered assault weapon may possess the assault weapon after July 1, 2026."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47.2-3(d) (grandfather clause) statute

Until July 1, 2026, the owner of a grandfathered assault weapon may apply to the Rhode Island State Police or the local police department where they reside for a voluntary certificate of possession. Application requires a $50 fee per applicant (covering any number of weapons) and a fingerprint-supported background check. The police department does NOT retain copies of the certificate or identifying information. A certificate is evidence of lawful prior possession in any criminal or civil matter.

"Until July 1, 2026, the owner of a grandfathered assault weapon, who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm, may apply for a voluntary certificate of possession from the Rhode Island state police or the police department where the person resides."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47.2-4 (voluntary certificate of possession) statute

A 'large capacity feeding device' is defined as a magazine, box, drum, tube, belt, feed strip, or other ammunition feeding device capable of holding, or that can readily be extended to hold, more than ten (10) rounds.

"a magazine, box, drum, tube, belt, feed strip, or other ammunition feeding device which is capable of holding, or can readily be extended to hold, more than ten (10) rounds."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47.1-2 (definition) statute

No person except a federally licensed firearm dealer may manufacture, sell, transfer, purchase, possess, or control a large capacity feeding device. Violation is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. Exemptions cover active and qualifying retired law enforcement, active-duty military, and National Guard. Law enacted June 21, 2022; compliance deadline for prior owners was December 18, 2022.

"No person, except for a federally licensed firearm dealer, shall manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, possess, or have under his or her control a large capacity feeding device."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47.1-3 statute

The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Rhode Island's 10-round magazine limit against a Second Amendment challenge, holding the law is consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation under the Bruen standard.

"consistent with our relevant tradition of gun regulation."

Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island, No. 23-1072 (1st Cir. Mar. 7, 2024) court

It is unlawful in Rhode Island to manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess any silencer or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm; violation is a felony with a minimum sentence of one year and one day. Tactical-team law enforcement operations are the only exception. The state ban is independent of the federal NFA — civilian possession is not allowed even with an ATF-approved Form 4.

"It shall be unlawful within this state to manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess any muffler, silencer, or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm when discharged."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20 statute

Rhode Island defines a 'machine gun' broadly (any weapon that shoots automatically more than one shot by a single function of the trigger) and defines 'sawed-off shotgun' as any shotgun with overall length under 26 inches or barrel length under 18 inches, and 'sawed-off rifle' as any rifle with overall length under 26 inches or barrel length under 16 inches. These configurations are heavily restricted under chapter 11-47.

"'Machine gun' means any weapon that shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger."

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-2 (machine gun, sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle definitions) statute

Rhode Island preempts local firearm regulation, vesting control of firearms, ammunition, and component parts solely with the state with limited exceptions. Local ordinances regulating ownership, possession, transportation, carry, transfer, sale, purchase, licensing, registration, or taxation are preempted.

"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 statute

Signed by Governor Daniel J. McKee on June 26, 2025, the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act creates new chapter 11-47.2 and prohibits the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, possession, or control of defined 'assault weapons' beginning July 1, 2026. Items lawfully possessed before that date are grandfathered.

"on or after July 1, 2026, no person shall manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, possess, or have under his or her control an assault weapon."

Public Law 2025, ch. 281 / ch. 282 (Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025) statute

Effective June 21, 2022, Rhode Island prohibited possession, sale, manufacture, and transfer of magazines holding more than ten rounds, creating new chapter 11-47.1. Pre-existing owners had 180 days (until December 18, 2022) to permanently modify, surrender, or transfer non-compliant devices.

"No person, except for a federally licensed firearm dealer, shall manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, possess, or have under his or her control a large capacity feeding device."

Public Law 2022, ch. 244/245 (Large Capacity Feeding Device Ban) statute

Creates new chapter 11-47.2 prohibiting manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, and possession of defined 'assault weapons' beginning July 1, 2026, with grandfathering for items lawfully possessed before that date and an optional voluntary certificate of possession process.

Public Law 2025, ch. 281 / ch. 282 (H 5436A / S 359A)

Amended R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60.1 to require all firearms to be stored in a locked container or with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock, with civil-infraction penalties escalating to criminal penalties for second-degree and first-degree criminal storage when a prohibited person obtains a firearm and uses it.

Public Law 2024, ch. 107 / ch. 108

Prohibited manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, possession, and control of magazines holding more than ten rounds, creating new chapter 11-47.1. Required prior owners to permanently modify, surrender, or transfer non-compliant devices by December 18, 2022.

Public Law 2022, ch. 244 / ch. 245 (H 6614A / S 2653A)

Amended R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-37 to raise the minimum age for the purchase of any firearm — handgun or long gun — from 18 to 21, with exemptions for active-duty law enforcement, state marshals, correctional officers, and active-duty military.

Public Law 2022, ch. 234 / ch. 235 (H 7457aa / S 2637A)

Prohibited open carry of a loaded shotgun or rifle on any public roadway, addressing demonstrations and protest carriage.

Public Law 2022 (H 7358A / S 2825)

Established Rhode Island's red-flag law, chapter 8-8.3, allowing a law enforcement agency to petition a court for a temporary (up to 14-day) or one-year extreme risk protection order against a person posing a significant danger of imminent personal injury through firearm access.

Public Law 2018, ch. 158 / ch. 165