Open Carry Laws in Rhode Island

Open carry of firearms in Rhode Island is subject to significant restrictions that differ depending on the type of firearm and whether the person holds a permit. Unlike some states where open carry of handguns is permitted without a license, Rhode Island requires specific authorization from the Attorney General before a person may carry a handgun openly in public.^[1]

Handgun Open Carry

Open carry of a pistol or revolver in Rhode Island is lawful only for persons who hold a permit issued by the Attorney General under RIGL 11-47-18. The AG permit explicitly authorizes carrying a firearm "concealed or not," which is the statutory basis for open carry. A local LCCW issued under RIGL 11-47-11 authorizes concealed carry only and does not extend to open carry. This means that a person holding only a local LCCW who carries a handgun visibly in public is in violation of the law. Without any permit, open carry of a handgun is restricted to one's dwelling house, place of business, or land one possesses, as provided by RIGL 11-47-8(a).^[2]

Long Gun Open Carry

Section 11-47-51 prohibits carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun "upon or along any public highway, road, lane, or trail." This is a restriction specific to public roadways and trails, not a blanket prohibition on open carry of long guns in all public places. The original prohibition dates to 1959. The 2022 amendments (P.L. 2022, ch. 133 and ch. 134, effective June 21, 2022) broadened certain provisions of this section but did not create the restriction. Outside of public highways, roads, lanes, and trails, Rhode Island does not prohibit the open carry of long guns through the § 11-47-8 licensing scheme, which applies only to pistols and revolvers. A person may still transport an unloaded long gun to or from a lawful activity such as hunting or target shooting, consistent with the provisions of RIGL 11-47-10.^[3]

Exceptions to the Permit Requirement

Certain persons are exempt from the general prohibition on carrying firearms without a permit. Under RIGL 11-47-9, law enforcement officers, active duty military personnel, and certain designated government officials may carry firearms openly or concealed without obtaining an LCCW or AG permit. Additionally, RIGL 11-47-8(a) provides that no license or permit is required to carry a pistol or revolver within one's dwelling house, place of business, or on land that one possesses. This exception does not extend to vehicles parked on public roads or to common areas of apartment buildings.^[4]

Practical Considerations

Because the AG permit is the only legal pathway to open carry and is issued on a may-issue basis requiring a "proper showing of need," open carry remains effectively unavailable to most Rhode Island residents. The vast majority of permit holders carry concealed under the local LCCW system. Persons who open carry with only a local LCCW or without any permit risk criminal prosecution under the firearms carry statutes.

Post-Bruen Legal Challenge

In August 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island addressed whether the AG's may-issue open carry system violates the Second Amendment under NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022). In O'Neil v. Neronha^[5], seven Rhode Island residents with concealed carry permits challenged the AG's "proper showing of need" requirement for unrestricted (open carry) permits. Judge William E. Smith granted summary judgment for the state, holding that Bruen does not require states to permit open carry specifically and that the manner of public carry may be regulated so long as one lawful method of carrying remains available. The plaintiffs have appealed to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the outcome of that appeal could alter the legal landscape for open carry in Rhode Island.