How to Buy a Rifle or Shotgun in Rhode Island

The process for purchasing a rifle or shotgun in Rhode Island is simpler than for handguns, though important restrictions still apply. Under RIGL 11-47-35.2, a citizen of the United States or lawful resident of Rhode Island must be 21 years of age or older to purchase or acquire a rifle or shotgun, and the section's history lists P.L. 2022, ch. 135 and ch. 136^[1]. Handgun buyers must also be 21 or older under RIGL 11-47-35.

Federal Requirements at FFLs

When purchasing a rifle or shotgun from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), the buyer must complete ATF Form 4473 and pass a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check^[2]. If NICS does not respond with a proceed notification, the dealer must not transfer the firearm for three business days, after which the dealer may proceed unless NICS has issued a denial. If no determination is made within three business days, federal law lets the FFL proceed, but Rhode Island's seven-day delivery period under RIGL 11-47-35.2 still applies before the rifle or shotgun may be delivered.

Seven-Day Waiting Period for Rifles and Shotguns

Rhode Island imposes a 7-day waiting period on all rifle and shotgun purchases under RIGL 11-47-35.2^[4]. The statute is titled "Sale of rifles/shotguns" and applies the same application and background check process as the handgun waiting period under RIGL 11-47-35. The buyer must complete a triplicate application, which the seller forwards to the local chief of police or the superintendent of state police for a background check. No delivery may occur until seven days have elapsed from 12:00 noon of the day following the day of application. Together, § 11-47-35 (handguns) and § 11-47-35.2 (rifles/shotguns) impose the same 7-day delivery delay on handgun and long gun sales alike, subject to statutory exemptions for certain purchasers and for sales of air rifles, BB guns, and antique firearms.

LCCW Exemption from Waiting Periods

Section 11-47-35.2(c) provides that the waiting period provisions "shall not apply to...persons licensed under §§ 11-47-9 and 11-47-11." Because § 11-47-11 is the city and town concealed carry licensing statute, holders of a local LCCW issued under § 11-47-11 are exempt from the rifle and shotgun waiting period. The subsection names §§ 11-47-9 and 11-47-11 and does not name the Attorney General permit issued under § 11-47-18. A separate exemption for handguns exists under § 11-47-35.1^[5], which provides that the provisions of § 11-47-35 as a whole, including the Blue Card requirement as well as the waiting period, shall not apply to persons licensed under § 11-47-11. Together, § 11-47-35.1 (handguns) and § 11-47-35.2(c) (rifles/shotguns) exempt local LCCW holders from the purchase waiting periods for both handguns and long guns.

No State Registration

Consistent with the prohibition on firearms registries under RIGL 11-47-41^[3], there is no state registration requirement for rifles or shotguns. The ATF Form 4473 is retained by the FFL as a business record, not submitted to a state registry. If the FFL goes out of business without a successor, the records must be delivered within 30 days to the ATF Out-of-Business Records Center or to an ATF office in the division where the business was located.

Blue Card Not Required

The DEM handgun safety certificate (Blue Card) requirement under RIGL 11-47-35 applies only to pistols and revolvers. Buyers of rifles and shotguns are not required to obtain a Blue Card or any other state-issued permit prior to purchase, though they must still pass the federal NICS check and meet the minimum age requirement.