Firearms Act
Rhode Island · Criminal Offenses · §§ 11-47-1 to 11-47-9.1 · 93 sections
Overview
The act regulates the possession, carrying, sale, and transfer of firearms and ammunition, together with related items such as silencers, armor-piercing bullets, body armor, machine guns, and explosive or noxious substances. Its principal mechanism is a licensing and permitting system — chiefly for carrying a concealed pistol or revolver, with separate licenses for machine gun manufacturers and for banks and carriers — governed by proof-of-ability requirements, fees, and grounds for revocation, and subject to exemptions for antique firearms and for transport to a target range. It also prohibits transfers to and possession by minors, bars false statements and straw purchases in acquiring firearms or licenses, penalizes altering identifying marks and carrying or using a weapon while committing a crime of violence, provides for forfeiture and destruction of unlawful firearms, and sets firearms-qualification standards for law enforcement officers.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
In the courts
Sections of this act have been cited in 37 court decisions.
Most-cited authority: 724 F.3d 426 - Drake v. Filko
Sections covered
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-1Short title2 cites
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-10License or permit not required to carry to target range
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-11License or permit to carry concealed pistol or revolver6 cites
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-12License or permit fee
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-13Revocation of license or permit
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-14Licenses and permits to banks and carriers
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-15Proof of ability required for license or permit1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-15.1Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June 6, 1970
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-15.2Definitions of law enforcement firing positions
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-15.3Commission on law enforcement standards and training
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-16Certification of qualification
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-16.1Special commission on law enforcement weapons qualifications of retired officers
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-17Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June 17, 1959
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-17.1Mandatory or discretionary nature of § 11-47-15.1 requirements — Qualification reports to be filed
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-18License or permit issued by attorney general on showing of need — Issuance to retired police officers2 cites
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-19Machine gun manufacturers’ licenses or permits
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-2Definitions5 cites
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20Sale or possession of silencers
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20.1Armor-piercing bullets1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20.2Possession during commission of a felony
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20.3Injury or death of law enforcement officer
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20.4Body armor
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-21Restrictions on possession or carrying of explosives or noxious substances
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-22Forfeiture and destruction of unlawful firearms
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-23False information in securing firearm or license — Straw purchases1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-24Alteration of marks of identification on firearms
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-25Antique firearms and collections
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-26Penalties for violations1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-27Standard of proof under §§ 11-47-1 — 11-47-341 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-28Arrest and detention for possession of firearms
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-29Certification of conviction of alien
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-3Carrying dangerous weapons or substances when committing crime of violence
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-30Transfer or delivery of firearms to minors1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-31Sale, transfer or delivery of ammunition to minors
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-3.1Carrying a stolen firearm when committing a crime of violence
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-32Possession of ammunition by minor
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-3.2Using a firearm when committing a crime of violence
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-33Possession of firearms by minors
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-34[Repealed.]
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-35Sale of concealable weapons — Safety courses and tests — Issuance of permits to certain government officers3 cites
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-35.1Persons exempt from § 11-47-35
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-35.2Sale of rifles/shotguns
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-35.3Annual report on application process administration
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-36Purchase of concealable firearms from out of state dealers
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-37Sale to minors and others forbidden
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-37.1Persons exempt from age restrictions
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-38Dealers to be licensed
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-39Issuance and conditions of dealer’s license
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-4Being armed prima facie evidence of intention
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-40Register of sales of firearms — Display of firearms1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-41Government firearm registration prohibited
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-42Weapons other than firearms prohibited2 cites
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-43Collectors and police officers exempt from § 11-47-42
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-44Standard of proof under §§ 11-47-42 and 11-47-43
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-45Arrest and detention for possession of weapon prohibited by § 11-47-42
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-46Sections 11-47-42 — 11-47-45 inapplicable to firearms
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-47Display of weapons
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-48Report of gunshot wounds
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-48.1Report of lost or stolen weapons1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-49Firing across highways prohibited
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-49.1Firing in Blackstone Valley Flood Plain prohibited
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-5Possession of firearms by certain persons prohibited2 cites
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-50Firing without landowner’s permission — Firing in compact area1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-51Loaded rifles and shotguns in vehicles and roadways
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-5.1Larceny of a firearm
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-51.1Discharge of firearm or incendiary or explosive substance or device from motor vehicle
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-52Carrying of weapon while under the influence of liquor or drugs
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-5.2Possession of a stolen firearm
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-53Limitation of prosecutions under §§ 11-47-49 — 11-47-52 — Fines
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-5.3Surrender of firearms by persons convicted of domestic violence offenses
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-54Licensing of shooting galleries
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-5.4Surrender of firearms after domestic violence offenses
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-55Enforcement of chapter
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-5.5Motion to lift firearms prohibition for persons convicted of specified misdemeanor domestic violence offenses — Consecutive prohibitions — Return of surrendered firearms
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-56Constitutionality
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-57“Mace” or similar substances
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-58Firearms — State preemption
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-59Possession of knife during commission of crime
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-6Mental incompetents and drug addicts prohibited from possession of firearms1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60Possession of firearms on school grounds
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60.1Safe storage — Unsafe storage of a firearm1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60.2Possession of weapons on school grounds — Notification
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60.3Trigger lock required
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60.4Secure storage information and awareness
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-61Drive-by shootings2 cites
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-62Rifle ranges — Immunity from prosecution — Criminal or civil
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-63Relief from disqualifiers program
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-64Sale of ammunition
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-7Possession of firearm by alien
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8License or permit required for carrying pistol — Other weapons prohibited1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8.1Modification of semi-automatic weapon
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-9Persons exempt from restrictions1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-9.1Additional exemptions
Enacted in other states
All Rhode Island named statutes →
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