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Sale of Firearms-Rhode Island

Gun law in the United States is defined by a number of state and federal statutes.  Sale or delivery of firearms is restricted in Rhode Island like any other U.S. state.  In almost all the states of the U.S., an importer, manufacturer, dealer or collector shall be licensed under the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968, to be a lawful seller.

The state exclusively holds the control of firearms, ammunition, or their component parts; their ownership, possession, transportation, carrying, transfer, sale, purchase, purchase delay, licensing, registration, and taxation[i].

A dealer, pawnbroker, or seller of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm has to keep a register in which the date of sale, name, age, and residence of every purchaser of the a pistol, revolver, or other firearm, together with the caliber, make, model, manufacturer’s number, or other mark of identification on the pistol, revolver, or other firearm has to be entered.  The register shall be open at all reasonable hours for the mandatory monthly inspection of licensed firearm dealers to be conducted by state or local police officials.

A citizen of Rhode Island shall purchase any concealable firearm from outside the state after executing the prescribed application form from the city or town clerk of the city or town in which s/he resides or has a place of business.  The original and duplicate copies of the application shall be delivered in person, duly executed, by the purchaser to the superintendent of the Rhode Island state police or to the chief of police of the city or town in which the purchaser resides.  A triplicate copy of the application has to be sent by registered mail to the attorney general within twenty-four hours from the time of filing with the appropriate police authority[ii].  The police authority to whom the original and duplicate copies of the application are delivered has the duty to check the applicant’s record to ascertain whether he or she falls under the provisions of § 11-47-5, 11-47-6, 11-47-7, or 11-47-23.  If, after the lapse of seventy-two (72) hours from twelve o’clock noon of the day following the date of application, no disqualifying record has been found by the investigating police authority, the original and duplicate copies of the application marked or stamped “approved” and signed by the investigating police authority will be returned to the applicant by the most expeditious means.  The approved duplicate copy of the application shall be sent by the purchaser to the out-of-state dealer as proof of lawful purchase.  The original shall be retained by the purchaser along with the bill of sale for the firearm purchased for a period of six years as proof of lawful purchase.  The triplicate copy of the application shall be retained by the attorney general for a period not exceeding ninety days, provided that no evidence disqualifying the applicant has been found.

It is unlawful to intentionally sell, transfer, give, convey, or cause to be sold, transferred, given or conveyed any firearm to any person under eighteen years of age without prior approval or consent of the parent or legal guardian.  Violators of this rule are punishable by imprisonment for not less than ten years and not more than twenty years[iii].

The licensed seller or a private party must confirm the receipt of “Purchase of a Shotgun or Rifle Application Form” before completing any sale.  The seller must conduct a background check on the potential purchaser through the local police or the superintendent of the State Police.  The seller has to retain a copy of the application for six years.  A second copy is to be given to the law enforcement agency where the sale is taking place for the purposes of conducting the background check; and one copy is to be sent to the Attorney General.

A seller shall not deliver a rifle or shotgun to the potential purchaser until 7 days after twelve noon of the day following the application, provided there is no disqualifying information received from the investigating agency.  The seller shall also check the purchaser’s state-issued handgun safety card before making the sale.  Delivery of the firearm has to be made after providing a trigger lock or other safety device.

[i] R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-58

[ii] R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-36

[iii] R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-30


Inside Sale of Firearms-Rhode Island