Rhode Island General Laws Section 11-47-60.1[1] governs the safe storage of firearms. Prior to the 2024 legislative session, the statute only applied when a minor gained access to a loaded firearm and used it to cause injury or death. The 2024 amendments fundamentally restructured the provision, creating a standalone obligation for all firearms owners.
The Original Criminal Storage Rule
The criminal storage provisions remain in effect. Under subsection (c), a person who stores or leaves a firearm on premises under their control, knowing or having reason to know that a child under 18 is likely to gain access without the permission of the child's parent or guardian, or that a person prohibited under state or federal law from purchasing or possessing firearms is likely to gain access, commits criminal storage of a firearm in the second degree if the child or prohibited person actually obtains access. The rule covers any firearm, loaded or unloaded, and access alone triggers liability, punishable by up to one year imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If the firearm obtained is then used in the commission of a crime or to cause injury to any person, the offense becomes criminal storage in the first degree under subsection (d), punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.[1] These provisions do not apply if the child or prohibited person obtains the firearm through an illegal entry or an illegal taking from the owner's premises, if the firearm was secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, if the firearm was being carried by or could be readily carried by a lawfully authorized user in proximity to it, or if the firearm was obtained in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person.
The 2024 Standalone Storage Duty
The 2024 amendment added a new subsection requiring all firearms owners to store their firearms in a securely locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device when the firearm is not being carried on the person or is not within close proximity for immediate retrieval and use.[2] This obligation applies to ALL firearms (loaded or unloaded, handguns and long guns alike) and does not require that a minor be present or gain access. The "close proximity" exception means you are not required to lock a firearm that you are actively carrying or that is near enough to retrieve and use immediately.
Tiered Penalty Structure
The penalty structure for a standalone storage violation escalates with each offense:
- First offense: Civil infraction punishable by a fine of $250
- Second offense: Civil infraction punishable by a fine of $1,000
- Third or subsequent offense: Misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $500, or both
These penalties apply to the standalone storage violation only. The criminal storage provisions retain their own penalty structure, under which access by a child or prohibited person is a second-degree offense punishable by up to one year, and use of the firearm in a crime or to cause injury elevates it to a first-degree offense punishable by up to 5 years.[1]
Practical Compliance
Rhode Island law does not prescribe specific types of locked containers or safety devices. Any container with a lock (gun safe, lockbox, locked cabinet) or any tamper-resistant mechanical lock or trigger lock satisfies the requirement. Cable locks distributed free by many dealers and law enforcement agencies also qualify. The key consideration is that the firearm must not be accessible to an unauthorized person when the owner is not carrying it or within close proximity.[3]