Rhode Island Gun Control Laws

In 2022, the Rhode Island General Assembly sent three new gun control laws to the desk of Governor Dan McKee. The laws signed by the Governor included:

• A ban on large capacity feeding devices which can hold over 10 rounds of ammunition
• A ban on open carry of loaded shotguns and rifles on public roadways
• An increase in the minimum age to purchase firearms in the state from 18 to 21 years of age

Rhode Island firearm laws are more restrictive than several other states. Legislators seek to balance the public need to reduce gun violence with the rights of law-abiding gun owners. That's no easy task in a nation often divided over such matters.

Federal law only provides limited regulation of gun purchases and ownership. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the federal agency that oversees federal firearms law. This includes the licensing of those involved in interstate commerce of firearms and enforcing prohibitions on possession and ownership. Federal law requires that firearm dealers with a federal license run background checks on gun purchases to prevent sales to felons and other prohibited persons. Along with the FBI, it investigates and prosecutes illegal possession of a firearm cases.

Still, most gun control laws appear at the state level. States address matters like concealed carry permits and the open carry of firearms. They may set waiting periods for the purchase or transfer of a gun. They pass laws regulating the possession or use of firearms in motor vehicles and public places. They can provide more restrictions on who can purchase and possess firearms.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides:

A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Many viewed this amendment as protecting the rights of citizens to defend themselves against an invading army. In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the amendment more broadly, finding an individual's right to bear arms for self-defense. In New York Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), the Court provided a new test for government regulations that burden an individual's right to bear arms. It held that the government must show that a law or regulation is consistent with traditional, historical regulation of firearms in the United States. In Bruen, the Court overturned a gun licensing law that provided significant discretion to authorities to decide who qualified. As a result, the criteria for licenses must also be objective and tailored to the government's public safety goals. The Bruen case has led to more legal challenges of federal, state, and local gun regulations.

Rhode Island Gun Control Laws at a Glance

In Rhode Island, you need a safety certificate issued by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to purchase a handgun. The DEM also manages the firearms safety course. The course includes at least two hours of instruction in the safe handling and use of pistols and revolvers. Completing the training course is necessary to receive the handgun safety certificate. Local police, other law enforcement, and active duty military are exempt.

Rhode Island gun laws also provide for the issuance of a license to carry a handgun in public. Licensing authority is split. You can apply to carry a concealed firearm (pistol or revolver) through local authorities such as your city or town. The regulatory format for issuing this license falls in accord with the "shall issue" directive from the Bruen case. This means that upon meeting objective criteria, officials will grant the license.

You can also apply for a license to carry a firearm (pistol or revolver) open or concealed from the office of the State Attorney General. The regulatory format here provides that the Attorney General may issue the permit upon proper showing of need. In any case, the illegal carrying of a firearm (pistol or revolver) without a license can result in a felony conviction, including up to 10 years in prison. Exceptions to the license law are provided for those who carry a handgun in their motor vehicle while holding a valid license from another state and only passing through Rhode Island without any intent to remain in the state. Law enforcement officers and active-duty military are exempt from the license requirement.

Rhode Island provides for universal background checks—all private sales and transfers of firearms require the seller to send the application form to the state police, local police department, or other proper law enforcement agency for a background check. There is a minimum seven-day waiting period before delivery of the firearm to the purchaser. The state also requires any court that commits a person to a mental institution to share that information with NICS, the national background check database operated through the FBI. Although Rhode Island does not have an assault weapons ban, it does ban certain firearms. A state preemption law prohibits local governments from passing firearm laws in conflict with the state.

In June of 2024 Rhode Island's Safe Storage of Firearms law was enacted. It requires firearms to be stored in secured or locked containers or equipped with tamper-resistant locks. The law imposes fines and potential imprisonment for violations, with penalties increasing for repeated offenses and if a child or prohibited person gains access to an unsecured firearm.

The table below contains a summary of Rhode Island's gun control laws.

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the status of the state law(s) you are reviewing.

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Learn More About Rhode Island Gun Control Laws

Are you facing a criminal charge for illegal gun possession? Do you have questions about your eligibility to own a gun in Rhode Island? An attorney licensed in Rhode Island can answer these questions and more.