Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 11-47.1[1] establishes a comprehensive ban on large capacity magazines, defined as any ammunition feeding device capable of accepting more than 10 rounds. Enacted as the Rhode Island Large Capacity Feeding Device Ban Act of 2022 (P.L. 2022, ch. 99), effective June 20, 2022, the statute prohibits the manufacture, import, sale, purchase, transfer, and possession of such magazines within the state. June 20, 2022 is the statutory baseline date for the 180-day possession-compliance window.
Grandfathering and Permanent Modification
The law provided a 180-day compliance window following its enactment. Individuals who lawfully possessed large capacity magazines before June 21, 2022 had until December 17, 2022 (180 days from the June 20, 2022 statutory baseline) to either surrender them to law enforcement, transfer them out of state, transfer or sell them to a federally licensed firearm dealer, or permanently modify them to accept no more than 10 rounds. Permanent modification requires that the magazine be physically altered so that it cannot be readily restored to its original capacity. Methods such as epoxying or riveting the magazine body are accepted forms of permanent modification. Magazines that were simply fitted with removable capacity-limiting devices do not qualify.[2]
Exemptions
The statute exempts active law enforcement officers, retired law enforcement officers who qualify under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, and members of the military acting in their official capacity. Licensed firearms dealers may possess large capacity magazines for the sole purpose of transferring them out of state. The exemption does not extend to private security personnel or holders of concealed carry permits.
Penalties
A person who violates the large capacity magazine ban faces imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.[3] Each magazine possessed in violation constitutes a separate offense. The grandfathering deadline has passed, so there is no longer a lawful path to possess an unmodified large capacity magazine in Rhode Island for civilians.
Legal Status: No Active Challenge
Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island challenged the magazine ban on Second Amendment and Takings Clause grounds. The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari on June 2, 2025, leaving the First Circuit's ruling upholding the ban in place.[4] Three justices (Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch) indicated they would have granted review. With cert denied, there is no active federal court challenge and no injunction or stay affecting the law. The magazine ban is fully effective and no appeal pathway remains at the federal level.