The laws governing the legal use, storage and carrying of firearms are constantly changing. Below are the applicable laws in the State of Rhode Island as of 4/18/2013. The below information is designed to be a guide and not the final word. If you have specific questions, please refer to the State of Rhode Island legislation at rilin.state.ri.us. Another great resource is the Rhode Island Attorney General.

§ 11-47-2 Definition of terms.
When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be construed as follows:
(1) "Antique firearm" shall be defined as that term is defined under the provisions of title 18, United States Code, subsection 921 (18 U.S.C. § 921).
(2) "Crime of violence" shall mean and 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 and second degree arson, mayhem, robbery, burglary, breaking and entering, any felony violation involving the illegal manufacture, sale, or delivery of a controlled substance, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a controlled substance classified in schedule I or schedule II of § 21-28-2.08, any violation of § 21-28-4.01.1 or 21-28-4.01.2 or conspiracy to commit any violation of these statutes, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault or battery involving grave bodily injury, and/or assault with intent to commit any offense punishable as a felony; upon any conviction of an offense punishable as a felony offense under § 12-29-5.
(3) "Firearm" shall include any machine gun, pistol, rifle, air rifle, air pistol, "blank gun," "BB gun," so-called, or other instrument from which steel or metal projectiles are propelled, or which may readily be converted to expel a projectile, except recurve, compound, or longbows and except such instruments propelling such projectiles which instruments are designed or normally used for a primary purpose other than as a weapon. The frame or receiver of any such weapon shall be construed as a firearm under the provisions of this section.
(4) "Fugitive from justice" shall mean any person who has fled from any state, territory, the District of Columbia, or possession of the United States to avoid prosecution for a crime of violence or to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceeding.
(5) "Licensing authorities" shall mean the board of police commissioners of a city or town where such board has been instituted, the chief of police or superintendent of police of other cities and towns having a regular
(6) organized police force, and, in towns where there is no chief of police or superintendent of police, it shall mean the town clerk who may issue licenses upon the recommendation of the town sergeant, and it shall also mean any other person or body duly authorized by the city or town charter or by state law.
(7) "Machine gun" means any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if the parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.
(8) "Person" shall include individual, partnership, firm, association, or corporation.
(9) "Pistol" shall include any pistol or revolver, and any shotgun, rifle, or similar weapon with overall length less than twenty-six inches (26"), but shall not include any pistol or revolver designed for the use of blank cartridges only.
(10) "Sawed-off rifle" shall mean any rifle with overall length of less than twenty-six inches (26") and/or barrel length of less than sixteen inches (16").
(11) "Sawed-off shotgun" shall mean any shotgun with overall length of less than twenty-six inches (26") and/or barrel length of less than eighteen inches (18").
(12) "Sell" shall include let or hire, give, lend, and transfer, and the word "purchase" shall include hire, accept, and borrow, and the expression "purchasing" shall be construed accordingly.

§ 11-47-5 Possession of arms by person convicted of crime of violence or who is a fugitive from justice.
(a) No person who has been convicted in this state or elsewhere of a crime of violence or who is a fugitive from justice shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in his or her possession any firearm.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) herein, no person convicted of an offense punishable as a felony offense under § 12-29-5 shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in his or her possession any firearm, for a period of two (2) years following the date of such conviction.
(c) No person who is in community confinement pursuant to the provisions of § 42-56-20.2 or who is otherwise subject to electronic surveillance or monitoring devices as a condition of parole shall purchase, carry, transport, or have in his or her possession any firearm. This subsection shall not apply to any person who has not been convicted of (or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to) a crime of violence in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) Every person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for not less than two (2) nor more than ten (10) years; and for penalties provided in this section he or she shall not be afforded the benefit of suspension or deferment of sentence nor of probation.

§ 11-47-8 License or permit required for carrying pistol -Possession of machine gun.
(a) No person shall, without a license or permit, issued as provided in §§ 11-47-11, 11-47-12 and 11-47-18, carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed, except in his or her dwelling house or place of business or on land possessed by him or her or as provided in §§ 11-47-9 and 11-47-10. The provisions of the above section shall not apply to any person who is the holder of a valid license or permit issued by the licensing authority of another state, or territory of the United States, or political subdivision thereof, allowing him or her to carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed, provided the person is merely transporting the firearm through the state in a vehicle or other conveyance without any intent on the part of said person to detain him or herself or remain within the state of Rhode Island. No person shall manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess a machine gun except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Every person violating the provision of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten (10) years or by a fine up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, and except for a first conviction under this section shall not be afforded the provisions of suspension or deferment of sentence, nor a probation.

(b) No person shall have in his or her possession or under his or her control any sawed-off shotgun or sawed-off rifle as defined in § 11-47-2. Any person convicted of violating this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for up to ten (10) years or by a fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both, and for any subsequent conviction.
(c) No person shall have in his or her possession or under his or her control any firearm while the person delivers, possesses with intent to deliver, or manufactures a controlled substance. Any person convicted of violating this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than twenty (20) years; and further provided, that the sentence shall be consecutive to any sentence the person may receive for the delivery, possession with intent to deliver, or the manufacture of the controlled substance. It shall not be a defense to a violation of this subsection that a person has a license or permit to carry or possess a firearm.

§ 11-47-9 Persons exempt from restrictions.
The provisions of § 11-47-8 shall not apply to sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, the superintendent and members of the state police, members of the Rhode Island airport police department, assistant director (adult services), deputy assistant director, associate directors, members of the Rhode Island state marshals, correctional officers, all within the department of corrections, members of the city or town police force, capitol police investigators of the department of attorney general appointed pursuant to § 42-9-8.1, the director, assistant director, and other inspectors and agents at the Rhode Island state fugitive task force appointed pursuant to § 12-6-7.2, railroad police while traveling to and from official assignments or while on assignments, conservation officers, or other duly appointed law enforcement officers, nor to members of the army, navy, air force, marine corps of the United States, the national guard, or organized reserves, when on duty, nor to membersof organizations by law authorized to purchase or receive firearms from the United States or thisstate, provided such members are at or going to or from their places of assembly or target practice, nor to officers or employees of the United States authorized by law to carry a concealed firearm, nor to any civilian 14guard or criminal investigator carrying sidearms or a concealed firearm in the performance of his or her official duties under the authority of the commanding officer of the military establishment in the state of Rhode Island where he or she is employed by the United States, nor to any civilian guard carrying sidearms or a concealed firearm in the performance of his or her official duties under the authority of the adjutant general where he or she is employed guarding a national guard facility, provided, however, that the commanding officer of such military establishment shall have on file with the attorney general of this state a list of the names and addresses of all such civilian guards and
criminal investigators so authorized, nor to duly authorized military organizations when on duty, nor to members when at or going to or from their customary places of assembly, nor to the regular and/or ordinary transportation of pistols as merchandise, nor to any person while carrying a pistol unloaded and securely wrapped from the place of purchase to his or her home or place of business, or in movinggoods from one place of abode or business to another. Persons exempted by the provisions of this section from the provisions of § 11-47-8 shall have the right to carry concealed firearms everywhere within this state; provided, however, that this shall not be construed as giving the right to carry concealed firearms to a person transporting firearms as merchandise or as household or business goods.

§ 11-47-9.1 Additional exemptions.
The provisions of §§ 11-47-8 and 11-47-11 shall not apply to members of the state police, members of city or town police forces, and members of the Rhode Island airport police department. Persons exempted by the provisions of this section from the provisions of § 11-47-8 shall have the right to carry concealed firearms everywhere within this state; provided, however, that this shall not be construed as giving the right to carry concealed firearms to a person transporting firearms as merchandise or as household or business goods.

§ 11-47-10 License or permit not required to carry to target range.
No license or permit shall be required for the purpose of carrying or transporting any pistol or revolver from one's home or place of business to a bonafide target practice range, nor from a bona fide target practice range to one's home or place of business, to engage in any shoot meet, or practice, provided that the pistol or revolver is broken down, unloaded and carried as openly as circumstances will permit, or provided that the pistols or revolvers are unloaded and secured in a separate container suitable for the purpose.

§ 11-47-11  License or permit to carry concealed pistol or revolver.
(a) The licensing authorities of any city or town shall, upon application of any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over having a bona fide residence or place of business within the city or town, or of any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over having a bona fide residence within the United States and a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver concealed upon his or her person issued by the authorities of any other state or subdivision of the United States, issue a license or permit to the person to carry concealed upon his or her person a pistol or revolver everywhere within this state for four (4) years from date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear an injury to his or her person or property or has any other proper reason for carrying a pistol or revolver, and that he or she is a suitable person to be so licensed. The license or permit shall be in triplicate in form to be prescribed by the attorney general and shall bear the fingerprint, photograph, name,
address, description, and signature of the licensee and the reason given for desiring a license or permit and in no case shall it contain the serial number of any firearm. The original shall be delivered to the licensee. Any member of the licensing authority, its agents, servants, and employees shall be immune from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based upon any official act or decision, performed or made in good faith in issuing a license or permit under this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding any other chapter or section of the general laws of the state of Rhode Island, the licensing authority of any city or town shall not provide or release to any individual, firm, association or corporation the name, address, or date of birth of any person who has held or currently holds a license or permit to carry a concealed pistol or revolver. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the release of any statistical data of a general nature relative to age, gender and racial or ethnic background nor shall it be construed to prevent the release of information to parties involved in any prosecution of § 11-47-8 or in response to a lawful subpoena in any criminal or civil action which the person is a party to that action.

§ 11-47-12 License or permit fee.
A fee of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be charged and shall be paid for each license or permit to the licensing authority issuing the same. Every such license or permit shall be valid for four (4) years from the date when issued unless sooner revoked. The fee charged for issuing of such license or permit shall be applied for the use and benefit of the city, town, or state of Rhode Island.

§ 11-47-13 Revocation of license or permit.
Any such license or permit may be revoked for just cause at any time by the authority granting it, and, upon revocation, such authority shall give immediate notice to the attorney general, who shall immediately note the revocation, with the date of revocation, upon the copy of the license or permit on file in his or her office.

§ 11-47-14 Licenses and permits to banks and carriers.
The attorney general may issue a license or permit to any banking institution doing business in this state or to any public carrier who is in the business of transporting mail, money, securities, or other valuables, to possess and use machine guns under such regulations as the attorney general may prescribe.

TRAINING REQUIREMENT
§ 11-47-15 Proof of ability required for license or permit.
No person shall be issued a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver concealed upon his or her person until he or she has presented certification as prescribed in § 11-47-16 that he or she has qualified with a pistol or revolver of a caliber equal to or larger than the one he or she intends to carry, that qualification to consist of firing a score of 195 or better out of a possible score of 300 with thirty (30) consecutive rounds at a distance of twenty-five (25) yards on the army "L" target, firing "slow" fire. The "slow" fire course shall allow ten (10) minutes for the firing of each of three (3) ten (10) shot strings.

§ 11-47-16 Certification of qualification.
The range officer of the Rhode Island state police, the range officer of any city or town police department maintaining a regular and continuing firearms training program, a pistol instructor certified by the National Rifle Association and/or the United States Revolver Association, and other qualified persons as the attorney general may designate are authorized to certify the qualification required by §§ 11-47-15 and 11-47-15.1. The certification required by §§ 11-47-15 and 11-47-15.1 and § 11-47-15.3 shall be accomplished on a form to be prescribed by the attorney general.

§ 11-47-18 License or permit issued by attorney general on showing of need – Issuance to retired police officers.
(a) The attorney general may issue a license or permit to any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over to carry a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, upon his or her person upon a proper showing of need, subject to the provisions of §§ 11-47-12 and 11-47-15, that license or permit may be issued notwithstanding the provisions of § 11-47-7.
(b) All state police officers and permanent members of city and town police forces of this state who have retired in good standing after at least twenty (20) years of service or retired in good standing due to a physical disability other than a psychological impairment, may be issued a license or permit by the attorney general subject to the provisions of §§ 11-47-12 and 11-47-15. Any member of the licensing authority, and its agents, servants, and employees shall be immune from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based upon any official act or decision, performed or made in good faith in issuing a license or permit under this chapter.
(c) Notwithstanding any other chapter or section of the general laws of the state of Rhode Island, the attorney general shall not provide or release to any individual, firm, association or corporation the name, address, or date of birth of any person who has held or currently holds a license or permit to carry a concealed pistol or revolver. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the release of any statistical data of a general nature relative to age, gender and racial or ethnic background nor shall it be construed to prevent the release of information to parties involved in any prosecution of § 11-47-8 or in response to a lawful subpoena in any criminal or civil action which said person is a party to such action.

TRANSPORTING FIREARMS
§ 11-47-8 License or permit required for carrying pistol -Possession of machine gun.
(a) No person shall, without a license or permit, issued as provided in §§ 11-47-11, 11-47-12 and 11-47-18, carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed, except in his or her dwelling house or place of business or on land possessed by him or her or as provided in §§ 11-47-9 and 11-47-10. The provisions of the above section shall not apply to any person who is the holder of a valid license or permit issued by the licensing authority of another state, or territory of the United States, or political subdivision thereof, allowing him or her to carry a pistol or revolver in any vehicle or conveyance or on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed, provided the person is merely transporting the firearm through the state in a vehicle or other conveyance without any intent on the part of said person to detain him or herself or remain within the state of Rhode Island. No person shall manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess a machine gun except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Every person violating the provision of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten (10) years or by a fine up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, and except for a first conviction under this section shall not be afforded the provisions of suspension or deferment of sentence, nor a probation.

§ 11-47-10 License or permit not required to carry to target range.
No license or permit shall be required for the purpose of carrying or transporting any pistol or revolver from one's home or place of business to a bonafide target practice range, nor from a bona fide target practice range to one's home or place of business, to engage in any shoot meet, or practice, provided that the pistol or revolver is broken down, unloaded and carried as openly as circumstances will permit, or provided that the pistols or revolvers are unloaded and secured in a separate container suitable for the purpose.

§ 11-47-51 Loaded weapons in vehicles. 
It is unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun or a rifle or shotgun from the magazine of which all shells and cartridges have not been removed, in or on any vehicle or conveyance or its attachments while upon or along any public highway, road, lane, or trail within this state; provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, the superintendent and members of the state police, prison or jail wardens or their deputies, members of the city or town police force, investigators of the department of attorney general appointed pursuant to § 42-9-8.1, the director, assistant director and other inspectors and agents at the Rhode Island state fugitive task force appointed pursuant to § 12-6- 7.2, nor to other duly appointed law enforcement officers, including conservation officers, nor to members of the army, navy, air force, or marine corps of the United States, or the national guard or organized reserves,
when on duty, nor to officers or employees of the United States authorized by law to carry a concealed firearm, nor to any civilian guard or criminal investigator carrying sidearms or a concealed firearm in the performance of his or her official duties under the authority of the commanding officer of the military establishment in the state of Rhode Island where he or she is employed by the United States.

OFF LIMITS
§ 11-47-60 Possession of firearms on school grounds. 
(a) No person shall have in his or her possession any firearm or other weapons on the school grounds. For the purposes of this section, school grounds shall mean the property of a public or private elementary or secondary school or in those portions of any building, stadium, or other structure on school grounds which were, at the time of the violation, being used for an activity sponsored by or through such a school in this state or while riding school provided transportation. Every person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five (5) years, or shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). Any juvenile adjudicated delinquent pursuant to this statute shall, in addition to whatever other penalties are imposed by the family court, lose his/her license to operate a motor vehicle for up to six (6) months. If such a juvenile has not yet obtained the necessary ageto obtain said license, the court may impose as part of its sentence, a delay in his/her right to obtain the license when eligible to do so, for a period of up to six (6) months.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who shall be exempt pursuant to the provisions of §§ 11-47-9, 11-47-11, and 11-47-18 or to the following activities when the activities are officially recognized and sanctioned by the educational institution: (1) firearm instruction and/or safety courses; (2) government-sponsored military-related programs such as ROTC; (3) interscholastic shooting and/or marksmanship events; (4) military history and firearms collection courses and/or programs; and (5) the use of blank guns in theatrical and/or athletic events.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to colleges, universities, or junior colleges.

Note: All areas restricted by our Federal Government apply as well.

RECIPROCITY
The State of Rhode Island does NOT honor any other state concealed carry permit/license.

The Rhode Island resident Pistol Permit is honored by the states listed below:
Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont

The Rhode Island non-resident Pistol Permit is honored by the states listed below:
Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont

NON-RESIDENT PERMIT
The State of Rhode Island will issue a non-resident a Pistol Permit.  The resident laws, rules, and procedures do apply.

§ 11-47-11  License or permit to carry concealed pistol or revolver.
(a) The licensing authorities of any city or town shall, upon application of any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over having a bona fide residence or place of business within the city or town, or of any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over having a bona fide residence within the United States and a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver concealed upon his or her person issued by the authorities of any other state or subdivision of the United States, issue a license or permit to the person to carry concealed upon his or her person a pistol or revolver everywhere within this state for four (4) years from date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear an injury to his or her person or property or has any other proper reason for carrying a pistol or revolver, and that he or she is a suitable person to be so licensed. The license or permit shall be in triplicate in form to be prescribed by the attorney general and shall bear the fingerprint, photograph, name,
address, description, and signature of the licensee and the reason given for desiring a license or permit and in no case shall it contain the serial number of any firearm. The original shall be delivered to the licensee. Any member of the licensing authority, its agents, servants, and employees shall be immune from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based upon any official act or decision, performed or made in good faith in issuing a license or permit under this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding any other chapter or section of the general laws of the state of Rhode Island, the licensing authority of any city or town shall not provide or release to any individual, firm, association or corporation the name, address, or date of birth of any person who has held or currently holds a license or permit to carry a concealed pistol or revolver. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the release of any statistical data of a general nature relative to age, gender and racial or ethnic background nor shall it be construed to prevent the release of information to parties involved in any prosecution of § 11-47-8 or in response to a lawful subpoena in any criminal or civil action which the person is a party to that action.