Even with a valid License to Carry a Concealed Weapon (LCCW), there are numerous locations in Rhode Island where carrying a firearm is prohibited or restricted. Violating these prohibitions can result in criminal charges, permit revocation, or both. This guide catalogs the places you need to know about.
School Grounds
RIGL 11-47-60[1] prohibits firearms on the grounds of any public or private elementary or secondary school. The statute defines school grounds to cover school property, portions of any building, stadium, or other structure on school grounds being used for an activity sponsored by or through a school, and school-provided transportation. This applies to all persons, including LCCW holders. There is no concealed carry exemption for school grounds. Under subsection (b), exceptions exist for persons exempt under RIGL 11-47-9, peace officers, retired law enforcement officers permitted under RIGL 11-47-18(b) or 18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C, individuals providing security services to a school under contract, and officially recognized and sanctioned activities such as firearm instruction or safety courses, government-sponsored military programs such as ROTC, interscholastic shooting or marksmanship events, military history and firearms collection courses, and the use of blank guns in theatrical or athletic events. Under subsection (c), the section does not apply to colleges, universities, or junior colleges. Under subsection (d), the section does not apply to a firearm that is not loaded and is in a locked container or a locked rack in a motor vehicle. Violation carries imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than five years, or a fine of $500 to $5,000.
State Buildings and Courthouses
Rhode Island prohibits firearms in state buildings, including the State House, state office buildings, and courthouses. The Rhode Island Judiciary's administrative orders prohibit firearms in all court facilities. Security screening at courthouses enforces this prohibition. LCCW holders are not exempt from courthouse restrictions. State agencies may also restrict firearms in their offices through posted signage and security protocols.
Federal Buildings and Facilities
Federal law (18 U.S.C. 930)[2] prohibits knowingly possessing a firearm in a federal facility, defined as a building or part of a building owned or leased by the federal government where federal employees are regularly present to perform their official duties. This covers locations such as post offices, Social Security offices, VA hospitals, and IRS offices. Federal court facilities are covered by a separate provision of the same statute. The prohibition applies nationwide, and no state carry permit exempts the holder, although the statute contains exceptions for authorized law enforcement and for the lawful carrying of firearms incident to hunting or other lawful purposes. Violation is punishable by up to one year imprisonment, up to two years in a federal court facility, or up to five years if the person intended that a firearm be used in the commission of a crime.
Airports
Firearms are prohibited past TSA security checkpoints at T.F. Green International Airport and all other airports under federal law (49 U.S.C. 46505). You may transport an unloaded firearm in checked luggage in a locked, hard-sided container in compliance with TSA regulations. Before the security checkpoint, Rhode Island state law governs. An LCCW holder may carry in the public areas of the airport terminal up to the security screening point.
State Parks and Forests
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) regulations govern firearms in state parks, forests, and management areas. Hunting with firearms is permitted in designated areas during open seasons with the appropriate licenses. Outside of lawful hunting activities, DEM regulations restrict the discharge of firearms in state recreational areas. Persons with a valid LCCW may carry a concealed handgun in state parks. Rhode Island's preemption statute (RIGL 11-47-58)[3] provides that control of firearms ownership, possession, transportation, carrying, transfer, sale, and licensing, among other subjects, rests solely with the state except as otherwise provided in chapter 11-47, which keeps cities and towns from adopting their own firearms restrictions. However, discharge restrictions remain enforceable as safety regulations rather than possession prohibitions.
Bars, Restaurants, and Alcohol
RIGL 11-47-52[4] prohibits carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Rhode Island does not have a blanket statutory prohibition on carrying in establishments that serve alcohol. However, the intoxication prohibition effectively limits carry in bars and restaurants where the permit holder is consuming alcohol. If you enter a restaurant that serves alcohol and do not drink, you are not violating Section 11-47-52. If you consume any amount of alcohol while carrying, you risk criminal liability. The statute does not define a specific blood alcohol threshold; any level of impairment may constitute a violation.
Private Property
Private property owners have the right to prohibit firearms on their premises. When a property owner posts signage prohibiting firearms or verbally communicates the restriction, all persons, including LCCW holders, must comply. Carrying a firearm on posted private property after notice is trespassing. Common examples include shopping malls, hospitals, private office buildings, and places of worship that have adopted no-firearms policies. Always check for posted signage before entering private establishments.
Carrying While Intoxicated
The prohibition under RIGL 11-47-52[4] deserves special emphasis. It applies at all times and in all places, not just in bars. The statute makes it unlawful to carry or transport any firearm in the state when intoxicated or under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs. Section 11-47-52 sets no penalty of its own, so the chapter default under RIGL 11-47-26 applies. Violation is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. Conviction may also result in revocation of your LCCW.
LCCW Exemptions
An LCCW provides the legal authority to carry a concealed handgun in most public places in Rhode Island, but it does not override the prohibitions listed above. The LCCW exempts the holder from certain other requirements, such as the seven-day waiting period for handgun purchases (RIGL 11-47-35) and the waiting period for rifles and shotguns (RIGL 11-47-35.2(c)). However, for purposes of prohibited places, the LCCW confers no special access. School grounds, courthouses, federal buildings, and posted private property remain off-limits to all permit holders.
Practical Guidance
- Before leaving home: Plan your route and stops. If any destination is a prohibited place, secure your firearm in your vehicle before entering.
- Vehicle storage: When you must leave your firearm in a vehicle, lock it in the trunk or a secured container out of sight. Never leave a firearm in an unlocked or visible location in a vehicle.
- When in doubt: If you are unsure whether a location prohibits firearms, ask before entering. Err on the side of caution.
- Alcohol: The simplest rule is never to consume alcohol while carrying. If you plan to drink at any point during an outing, leave the firearm at home or locked securely in your vehicle before your first drink.