State Gun Laws

Rhode Island state law says that a person cannot have or buy a firearm if s/he:

1. has been convicted of a “crime of violence” in Rhode Island or elsewhere. “Crimes of violence” include any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of them:
   • murder;
   • manslaughter;
   • rape;
   • first or second degree sexual assault;
   • first or second degree child molestation;
   • kidnapping;
   • first or second degree arson;
   • mayhem;
   • robbery;
   • burglary;
   • breaking and entering;
   • any felony violation involving the illegal manufacture, sale, or delivery of a controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a controlled substance; or conspiracy to commit manufacture, sell, or deliver a controlled substance;
   • assault with a dangerous weapon;
   • assault or battery involving grave bodily injury;
   • assault with intent to commit any offense punishable as a felony;
   • conviction of a domestic violence offense punishable as a felony;¹
2. was convicted of –or pled “no contest” (“nolo contendere”) to– in Rhode Island or elsewhere:
   • a felony domestic violence crime that is listed here;² or
   • one of the following misdemeanor domestic violence crimes:
     • simple assault;
     • cyberstalking and cyberharassment;
     • violation of a protective order (as explained in section(a)(10)); or
     • disorderly conduct but only if the offense involves the:
       • the use of force;
       • the attempted use of force; or
       • the threatened use of a dangerous weapon;
3. is a fugitive from justice;³
4. has a final domestic violence restraining order issued against him/her from either family court or district court;⁴
5. is in “community confinement” or otherwise subject to electronic surveillance or monitoring devices as a condition of parole;⁵
6. is under guardianship, treatment, or confinement due to being mentally incompetent;
7. has been adjudicated, is under treatment, or is under confinement as a drug addict;⁶ or
8. is in the U.S. illegally (an “alien”).⁷

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun if you have a restraining order against him/her that meets certain requirements or if s/he has been convicted of a felony or domestic violence misdemeanor. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ RI Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-5(a); 11-47-2(5)
² RI Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-5(a); 12-29-5; 12-29-2
³ ​RI Gen. Laws § 11-47-5(a)
⁴ RI Gen. Laws § 11-47-5(b)
⁵ RI Gen. Laws § 11-47-5(c)
⁶ RI Gen. Laws § 11-47-6
⁷ RI Gen. Laws § 11-47-7(a)