Semi-Automatic Modification Prohibition (RIGL 11-47-8.1)

Rhode Island General Laws Section 11-47-8.1^[1] prohibits the modification of any semi-automatic weapon to fire in fully automatic mode. Enacted in 2018, this statute targets the act of modification itself, regardless of the method or device used. This is a distinct prohibition from the bump stock ban in Section 11-47-8(d), which targets specific rate-increasing devices.

Scope of the Prohibition

The statute prohibits any person from modifying a semi-automatic firearm so that it is capable of discharging more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger (i.e., fully automatic fire). This covers all methods of modification, whether through machining the firearm's internal components, installing aftermarket parts, or any other alteration. The prohibition applies to rifles, pistols, and shotguns alike.

Trigger Replacement Exception

Section 11-47-8.1 includes a narrow exception for replacement triggers that are designed to improve trigger pull quality (such as reducing trigger weight or improving reset). The replacement trigger must not enable the firearm to fire automatically. This exception recognizes that aftermarket triggers are commonly used by competitive shooters and sport shooters for improved accuracy and does not intend to prohibit those modifications.

Relationship to § 11-47-8(d)

While Section 11-47-8(d) bans specific devices (bump stocks, binary triggers, trigger cranks), Section 11-47-8.1 addresses the modification of the firearm itself. A person could violate § 11-47-8.1 without possessing any of the devices banned under § 11-47-8(d). For example, machining the sear of a semi-automatic rifle to enable automatic fire would violate § 11-47-8.1 even though no external device was attached.

Penalties

A violation is punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, and after a first conviction no suspended or deferred sentence or probation is available (RIGL 11-47-8.1(a)). The modification of a semi-automatic weapon to fire automatically may also trigger federal prosecution under the National Firearms Act, as the resulting weapon would be classified as a machine gun under federal law.