Ammunition Purchase Requirements (2023 Law)

Rhode Island enacted RIGL 11-47-64^[1] as part of a 2022 legislative package. The statute took effect on June 21, 2022 (P.L. 2022, ch. 135 and ch. 136), and its credential requirement applies to ammunition sales made after December 31, 2022, meaning from January 1, 2023 onward. The statute imposes significant new restrictions on the purchase of ammunition, making Rhode Island one of a small number of states that regulate ammunition sales separately from firearm sales.

Core Requirements

Under the statute, no person, firm, or corporation may sell ammunition to any person unless the buyer is at least 21 years of age and holds a valid pistol/revolver safety certificate (Blue Card) or a Rhode Island hunter education course card issued by the Department of Environmental Management^[1]. Holders of a valid License to Carry a Concealed Weapon (LCCW) are exempt from the credential requirement under subsection (c). Because the prohibition runs against the seller, in practice the seller must confirm that the buyer holds a qualifying credential or exemption before completing the transaction.

Exemptions

Under RIGL 11-47-64(c), the following persons are exempt from the safety certificate or hunter education card requirement:

• Full-time members of the state police, the state marshal's office, or city or town police departments
• State marshals or correctional officers
• Persons on active duty in the United States armed forces, organized reserves, or National Guard
• Persons licensed to carry a firearm under RIGL 11-47-11 or 11-47-18 (LCCW holders)

The exemptions in subsection (c) apply to the whole of subsection (b), which contains both the age requirement and the credential requirement. The statute does not list retired law enforcement officers or a general exemption for federally licensed dealers purchasing ammunition for resale.

Penalties

Violation of RIGL 11-47-64 is classified as a felony. Any person who violates RIGL 11-47-64 is guilty of a felony and may be punished by imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both^[1]. The felony classification makes this one of the most severe ammunition-purchase laws in the country.

Practical Impact

The law applies to all ammunition, not just handgun ammunition. Purchasers of rifle, shotgun, and rimfire ammunition are equally required to present a qualifying credential. RIGL 11-47-64 places the age and credential requirements on the ammunition seller, subject to the exemptions in subsection (c).