Glossary

Key terms and abbreviations used in Rhode Island firearms law.

Army "L" Target: The standardized target used for LCCW firearms qualification under § 11-47-15. Applicants must score 195 out of 300 possible points, firing 30 rounds at 25 yards.
Assault Weapon / Prohibited Firearm: Under the 2025 AWB (Chapter 281, RIGL 11-47.2), a semi-automatic rifle with a detachable magazine and one or more prohibited features, a semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine exceeding 10 rounds, semi-automatic shotguns with fixed magazines exceeding 6 rounds, semi-automatic pistols with fixed magazines exceeding 10 rounds, revolving-cylinder shotguns, or belt-fed semi-automatics. Bans sale/manufacture/transfer (not possession) effective July 1, 2026.
AWB: Assault Weapons Ban. The Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 (Chapter 281, S 0359A), effective July 1, 2026.
BCI: Bureau of Criminal Identification. The unit within the Rhode Island Attorney General's office responsible for firearms background checks, permit records, and pistol permits.
Blue Card: Common name for the DEM-issued pistol/revolver safety certificate. Required to purchase a handgun in Rhode Island unless the buyer holds an LCCW. Obtained by passing a 2-hour DEM-administered safety course.
Castle Doctrine: Rhode Island's statutory self-defense protection under § 11-8-8. Creates a rebuttable presumption of lawful self-defense for occupants against persons committing breaking and entering offenses. No duty to retreat within any building.
Chapter 281: The legislative chapter number for the 2025 Assault Weapons Ban Act (S 0359A), signed June 26, 2025, effective July 1, 2026.
Crime of Violence: Defined in § 11-47-2. Includes murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, burglary, breaking and entering, and certain other felonies. Conviction permanently prohibits firearms possession.
DEM: Department of Environmental Management. Administers the 2-hour handgun safety course (Blue Card), hunter education cards, and hunting licenses in Rhode Island.
ERPO: Extreme Risk Protection Order. Under Title 8, Chapter 8.3 (enacted 2018), a court order temporarily prohibiting a person from possessing or purchasing firearms. Only law enforcement agencies may petition. Orders last up to 1 year.
Ghost Gun: Under § 11-47-2(8), a firearm (including frame or receiver) lacking a unique serial number engraved or cast in metal alloy by a licensed manufacturer. Completely banned in RI under § 11-47-8(e).
Grandfather Clause: A provision allowing continued lawful possession of items that were legal before a new ban took effect. The 2025 AWB does not prohibit possession of weapons lawfully owned before July 1, 2026 (possession is excluded from the list of prohibited acts). The 2022 LCM ban had a grandfathering deadline of December 18, 2022.
Large Capacity Feeding Device: Under Chapter 11-47.1, any magazine, box, drum, tube, belt, feed strip, or similar device capable of holding more than 10 rounds and feeding them into a semi-automatic firearm. Prohibited since June 2022.
LCCW: License to Carry a Concealed Weapon. Rhode Island's concealed carry permit, issued through two tracks: local police (shall-issue under § 11-47-11) or Attorney General (may-issue under § 11-47-18). Valid 4 years, $40 fee.
NICS: National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The federal system used for background checks during firearms purchases at licensed dealers.
Proper Showing of Need: The standard required for AG-issued permits under § 11-47-18. The AG interprets this strictly, typically requiring a specific documented threat to life or work-related security purpose.
RIGL: Rhode Island General Laws. The codified statutes of the State of Rhode Island, organized by title and chapter.
Shall-Issue: A licensing standard where the issuing authority must grant a permit to any applicant who meets the statutory criteria. Rhode Island's local LCCW track (§ 11-47-11) is shall-issue per Gadomski v. Tavares (2015).
State Preemption: The principle that state law overrides local municipal regulations on the same subject. Rhode Island has state preemption over firearms law. Local municipalities cannot enact firearms laws contradicting state regulations.
Suitable Person: The character determination made by the local licensing authority when evaluating LCCW applications under § 11-47-11. After Gadomski v. Tavares, local authorities cannot use this as a basis for arbitrary denial.
Unsafe Storage: Under § 11-47-60.1(b) as amended in 2024, storing any firearm without a locked container or tamper-resistant lock when not carried by or within close proximity of an authorized user. Separate from criminal storage (child access) provisions.