Rhode Island enacted RIGL 11-47-64[1] as part of a 2022 legislative package, with an effective date of January 1, 2023. 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 shall purchase ammunition unless they are at least 21 years of age and present one of the following at the point of sale: a Rhode Island DEM pistol/revolver safety certificate (Blue Card), a Rhode Island DEM hunter education card, or a valid License to Carry a Concealed Weapon (LCCW)[1]. Sellers must verify the credential 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)
These individuals must still be 21 or older and may be asked to present identification confirming their exempt status. 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. A person who purchases ammunition without the required credential, or a seller who knowingly completes a sale without verifying the credential, may be punished by imprisonment of up to 5 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. Online ammunition purchases shipped to a Rhode Island address are subject to the same requirements, with the receiving FFL or dealer responsible for verifying the credential upon pickup.