Firearms Penalties Overview:
Civil Infractions to Felonies

Rhode Island's firearms penalty structure spans a wide range, from civil fines for first-time storage violations to lengthy felony sentences for violent crimes involving firearms. Understanding the penalty tiers is critical for anyone subject to Rhode Island firearms law. This article provides a consolidated overview of the most significant penalty provisions.

Civil Infractions: Unsafe Storage

The lowest tier of firearms penalties in Rhode Island involves safe storage violations under Section 11-47-60.1^[1]. The 2024 expansion created a standalone duty to store firearms in a locked container or with a safety device. Penalties escalate: a first offense is a $250 civil fine, a second offense is a $1,000 civil fine, and a third or subsequent offense becomes a misdemeanor carrying up to 6 months imprisonment and a $500 fine. These are the only firearms violations in Rhode Island that begin as civil infractions rather than criminal charges.

Misdemeanors and Lower Felonies

Several firearms offenses occupy the middle tier of Rhode Island's penalty structure:

• Carrying without a license (Section 11-47-8): Carrying a concealed pistol or revolver without a License to Carry a Concealed Weapon is punishable by imprisonment of not less than 1 year and not more than 10 years, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both^[2]
• Large capacity magazine violation: Possession, sale, or transfer of a magazine holding more than 10 rounds is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000
• Straw purchases: Purchasing a firearm on behalf of a prohibited person is a felony offense

Serious Felonies: Assault Weapons and Ghost Guns

The most recently enacted prohibitions carry severe penalties:

• Assault weapons ban violation: Manufacturing, selling, purchasing, or transferring a prohibited firearm (as defined by P.L. 2025, ch. 281, RIGL Chapter 11-47.2) is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of up to $10,000, plus mandatory forfeiture. Possession is not prohibited.
• Ghost gun violation: Manufacturing, selling, purchasing, or possessing an unserialized firearm is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. A second or subsequent ghost gun offense carries no eligibility for probation or suspended sentence

Crime of Violence Enhancement

Section 11-47-3^[3] imposes additional penalties for using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. This enhancement applies on top of the sentence for the underlying crime. The severity of the enhancement depends on the nature of the violent crime and the defendant's criminal history. This provision ensures that firearms involvement in violent offenses is treated as an aggravating factor at sentencing.

Forfeiture and Collateral Consequences

Beyond imprisonment and fines, firearms convictions carry significant collateral consequences. Firearms used in the commission of an offense are subject to forfeiture. A conviction for any felony firearms offense results in permanent loss of the right to possess firearms under both Rhode Island and federal law. Concealed carry permits are revoked upon conviction. For non-citizens, certain firearms convictions may trigger deportation proceedings under federal immigration law.