2024 Safe Storage Law Expansion

In June 2024, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed companion bills (P.L. 2024, ch. 107 and ch. 108)^[1] that significantly expanded the state's safe storage requirements under RIGL 11-47-60.1. The bills were signed into law by Governor McKee and took effect upon passage.

Key Changes

The 2024 expansion made several notable changes to existing safe storage law. It created a standalone duty in RIGL 11-47-60.1(b): a firearm that is stored or left in any place must be secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant lock or other safety device, unless it is being carried by or readily available to a lawfully authorized user in proximity to it. This duty applies uniformly to all firearms regardless of whether a minor is present, and it does not impose a separate ammunition-storage requirement. The previous law contained only the criminal storage provisions tied to a child or prohibited person actually gaining access.

Enhanced Penalties

The legislation established tiered penalties for storage violations. A first offense is a civil infraction with a fine of up to $250. If a child or prohibited person obtains an improperly stored firearm and uses it in the commission of a crime or to cause injury, the owner faces a criminal storage offense — a felony with penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine^[2].

Practical Impact

The expansion brought Rhode Island closer to the storage standards seen in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Firearms owners in households with children should review their storage practices to ensure compliance. The law applies to all firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Trigger locks and cable locks remain acceptable, but the storage method must prevent minors from accessing the firearm even if the lock or container is discovered.