Brief Overview Of Rhode Island State Laws Concerning Air Guns
Rhode Island state law defines all air guns as firearms. Felons are prohibited from possessing air guns in the state of Rhode Island. There are however several provisions in Rhode Island’s state law that exclude air guns from the same laws that apply to traditional powder burning firearms. These provisions apply to larceny of a firearm, sales/transfers of firearms to minors, sales/transfers of ammunition to minors,sales of rifles and shotguns and keeping a register of sales of firearms and displaying concealable firearms for sale.
How old do you need to be to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island you must be 18 Years Old to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun
Rhode Island State Air-Gun Laws:
Rhode Island considers by State Law, all Non-powder guns as “Firearms” as defined under State Statutes. 1.R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-2(3).
Several of the provisions under the state’s weapons code do not apply to non-powder guns, including R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-5.1 (larceny of a firearm), 11-47-30 (sales/transfers of firearms to minors), 11-47-31 (sales/transfers of ammunition to minors), 11-47-35.2 (sales of rifles and shotguns) and 11-47-40 (keeping a register of sales of firearms and displaying concealable firearms for sale).
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-2
11-47-2 Definitions. – When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases are construed as follows:
(3) “Firearm” includes any machine gun, pistol, rifle, air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun,” “BB gun,” or other instrument from which steel or metal projectiles are propelled, or which may readily be converted to expel a projectile, except crossbows, recurve, compound, or longbows, and except instruments propelling projectiles which are designed or normally used for a primary purpose other than as a weapon. The frame or receiver of the weapon shall be construed as a firearm under the provisions of this section.
11-47-5.1 Larceny of a firearm.
(a) Every person who shall steal any firearm shall be deemed guilty of larceny. “Firearm”, as utilized in this section only, shall not apply to an air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun,” or “BB gun.” Every person violating the provisions of this section shall be sentenced, upon conviction, to not less than one year nor more than ten (10) years.
(b) No person shall steal any firearm as defined in this section and then sell, lend, or transfer the firearm or firearms. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years nor more than twenty (20) years, and the sentence shall be consecutive to any other sentence he or she may receive or is serving.
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-10
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 bona fide 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.
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-26
11-47-26 Penalties for violations. – Unless otherwise specified, any violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both; provided, that a violation of any of the provisions of §§ 11-47-1 – 11-47-34 with relation to air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun,” “BB gun,” or other instrument other than a machine gun, shotgun, rifle, or pistol, from which steel or other metal projectiles are propelled, shall for the first offense be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) and for the second or any subsequent offense by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100), or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both; and provided, further, that the provisions of chapter 1 of title 14 shall apply in the case of any person under the age of eighteen (18) years.
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-30
11-47-30 Sale, transfer or delivery of firearms to minors.
(a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person to sell, transfer, give, convey, or cause to be sold, transferred, given or conveyed any firearm to any person under eighteen (18) years of age, when the person knows or has reason to know that the recipient is under eighteen (18) years of age, except for the limited purposes set forth in §§ 11-47-33 and 11-47-34 and with the prior approval or consent of the parent or legal guardian of the minor.
(b) Every person violating this section shall be punished, upon conviction, by imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years and not more than twenty (20) years. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to any federally and state licensed retail dealer who makes reasonable efforts to verify a purchaser’s age and shall not apply to the sale of an air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun” or “BB gun.”
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-31
11-47-31 Sale, transfer or delivery of ammunition to minors.
(a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person to sell, transfer, give, convey, or cause to be sold, transferred, given or conveyed any ammunition, including any priming charge of powder, propelling charge of powder, or any form of missile or projectile to be ejected from a firearm to any person under eighteen (18) years of age when the person knows or has reason to know that the recipient is under eighteen (18) years of age, except for the limited purposes set forth in §§ 11-47-33 and 11-47-34 and with the prior approval or consent of the parent or legal guardian of the minor.
(b) Every person violating this section shall be punished, upon conviction, by imprisonment for a term not to exceed ten (10) years. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to any federally and state licensed retail dealer who makes reasonable efforts to verify a purchaser’s age and shall not apply to the sale of ammunition for an air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun” or “BB gun.”
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-33
11-47-33 Possession of firearms by minors. – (a) It shall be unlawful within this state for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to possess and use any firearm unless he or she shall hold a permit as provided in
11-47-34, and unless the person is in the presence of a parent or guardian or supervising adult at any regular and recognized camp or rifle range approved by the Rhode Island state police or by the chief of police of the city or town in which the camp or rifle range is located; provided, that this provision shall not apply to minors engaged in lawful hunting activity under the supervision of a parent or guardian or qualified adult, minors participating in Reserve Officer Training Corps programs, ceremonial parade activities, competitive and target shooting, participants in state militia activities and minors participating in a basic firearms education program; provided, further, that a person under eighteen (18) years of age may carry a firearm, unloaded, in a suitable case to and from his or her home and the camp or range and from the camp or range to other camp or range when accompanied by a parent, guardian or supervising adult.
(b) For purposes of this section only, “qualified adult” means any person twenty-one (21) years of age or older and permitted by law to possess and use the firearm.
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-40
11-47-40 Register of sales of firearms – Display of firearms.
(a) Every person, firm, or corporation selling a pistol, revolver, or other firearm whether the seller is a retail dealer, pawnbroker, or otherwise shall keep a register in which shall be entered at the time of sale the date of sale, name, age, and residence of every purchaser of the a pistol, revolver, or other firearm, together with the caliber, make, model, manufacturer’s number, or other mark of identification on the pistol, revolver, or other firearm. Every person, firm, or corporation who shall fail to keep a register and to enter the acts required by this section shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in this chapter. The register shall be open at all reasonable hours for the mandatory monthly inspection of licensed firearm dealers to be conducted by state and/or local police officials.
(b) This section shall not apply to wholesale dealers’ bona fide sales at wholesale to duly licensed retail dealers. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation dealing in firearms to display any pistol, revolver, or imitation, or any firearm of a size which may be concealed upon the person, or placard advertising the sale of one, in any part of the premises of the person, firm, or corporation where it can be readily seen from the outside. “Firearm” as utilized in this section only does not apply to an air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun,” or “BB gun.”
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-46
11-47-46 Sections 11-47-42 – 11-47-45 inapplicable to firearms. – The provisions of §§ 11-47-42 – 11-47-45 shall not be construed to relate to the possession and carrying of air guns, pistols or firearms of any description.
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-47
11-47-47 Display of weapons. – No person, firm, or corporation shall display in a place of business by means of a window display any pistol, revolver, or other firearm, as defined in § 11-47-2, or any dagger, dirk, bowie knife, stiletto, metal knuckles, or blackjack; provided, that dealers in sporting goods may include in a window display pistols or revolvers upon a permit issued by the chief of police or town sergeant of any city or town. Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense and one hundred dollars ($100) for every subsequent offense.
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-49
11-47-49 Firing across highways prohibited. – Every person who shall discharge any firearm or other contrivance arranged to discharge shot, bullets, arrows, darts, or other missiles in or across any public road, street, square, or lane shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or one year in prison, or both.
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-50
11-47-50 Firing without landowner’s permission – Firing in compact area.
(a) Every person, not being at the time under military duty, who shall discharge any firearm, “BB gun”, or other contrivance arranged to discharge shot, bullets, arrows, darts, or other missiles within the compact part of any city or town, or who shall discharge a firearm or other contrivance elsewhere, except upon land owned or occupied by him or her or by permission of the owner or occupant of the land on or into which he or she may shoot, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or one year in prison, or both; provided, that any city or town may by ordinance permit the discharge on non-posted land.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the owner of land who uses, or who gives permission to another to use without charge, a recurve, compound or longbow, provided that they are not used within two hundred fifty feet (250′) of a dwelling house.
TITLE 11 / Criminal Offenses / CHAPTER 11-47 / Weapons / SECTION 11-47-60
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 school grounds.
(2) For the purposes of this section, “school grounds” means 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 a school in this state or while riding school provided transportation.
(3) 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).
(4) Any juvenile adjudicated delinquent pursuant to this statute shall, in addition to whatever other penalties are imposed by the family court, lose his or her license to operate a motor vehicle for up to six (6) months. If the juvenile has not yet obtained the necessary age to obtain a license, the court may impose as part of its sentence a delay in his or 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.
Rhode Island Air Gun Hunting Regulations
Rhode Island allows air gun hunting for certain species. Calibers .177 -.22 must have velocities greater than 750 feet per second and pellets 7.5 grain or higher. These species include:
• Cottontail Rabbit
• Snowshoe Hare
• Gray Squirrel
• Red Squirrel
• Woodcock
Air Gun Laws In Local Jurisdictions
In addition to state laws, local jurisdictions may also have their own laws regulating air guns. Below are the laws for local jurisdictions in the state of Rhode Island.
BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL Bristol, Rhode Island Code of Ordinances.
Sec. 18-7. Prohibited acts constituting violations.
It shall be unlawful for any person in a public park or recreation area to:
(13) Bring into or have in his possession in any park or recreation area:
c. Any rifle, shotgun, BB gun, air gun, spring gun, slingshot, bow or other weapon in which the propelling force is gunpowder, a spring or air.
BURRILLVILLE, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statues (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE IV. OFFENSES INVOLVING PUBLIC SAFETY Central Falls, Rhode Island Code of Ordinances
Sec. 26-151. Discharging weapons.
No person shall fire or discharge any type of gun or contrivance arranged to discharge or throw shot, shell, bullets, arrows, darts, pellets, stones, BB shot, paintball gun or other missiles or projectiles within the limits of the city at any time for any reason whatsoever, without first having obtained special permission or a license from the city council therefor.
(Code 1973, § 18-23; Code 1994, § 26-7; Ord. of 6-1-2005(1))
Sec. 26-152. Hunting.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, pursue, take or kill any wild bird or animal in the city with rifles, firearms of any description, bow and arrow, or any other weapon, including air rifles or air pellet guns.
(Code 1973, § 18-12; Code 1994, § 26-9)
CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 9.16 WEAPONS Cranston, Rhode Island Code of Ordinances
9.16.010 Firearms—Discharge of rifle, pistol or air gun prohibited—Exception.
No person, except police officers in line of duty and military officers in line of duty, shall discharge any rifle, pistol or air gun loaded with ball, bullets or slug within the borders of the city.
(Prior code § 18-3)
CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 26 OFFENSES Cumberland, Rhode Island Code of Ordinances
Sec. 26-2. Hunting wild birds or animals or discharging weapons
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person while hunting or pursuing wild birds or wild animals in the town to use an air rifle (BB gun), air pellet gun, bow and arrow or rifle.
EXETER, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
HOPKINTON, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
JAMESTOWN, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
NARRAGANSETT, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 9.16. WEAPONS Newport, Rhode Island Code of Ordinances
9.16.010. Air guns prohibited—Exceptions.
No person shall use, sell, offer to sell or have in his or her possession an air rifle or air pistol or any similar instrument in which the propelling force is a spring or air, except that such devices used in connection with an amusement licensed by council or at pistol ranges duly authorized by law shall not be considered a violation of this section.
(Prior code § 696.01)
9.16.020. Discharge of air or spring guns.
Subject to the qualification made in Section 9.16.010, no person shall fire or discharge within the city any air gun, spring gun or other device which is calculated or intended to propel or project a bullet, pellet or similar projectile.
(Prior code § 696.02)
NORTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
SCITUATE, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL – South Kingstown, Rhode Island – Code of Ordinances
Sec. 12.1-7. – Prohibited acts constituting violations.
It shall be unlawful for any person in a public park or recreation area to:
(5) Bring into or have in his/her possession in any park or recreation area:
b. Any rifle, shotgun, BB gun, air gun, spring gun, slingshot, bow or other weapon in which the propelling force is gunpowder, a spring, or air.
TIVERTON, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
WARREN, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL Warren, Rhode Island Code of Ordinances
Sec. 13-2. Firearms
(a) Discharging restricted. Every person who shall discharge any firearms within fifty (50) yards of any dwelling or within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any road or highway shall be fined in accordance with section 1-8
(b) Target practice. At the request of any resident of the town, the town council when requested to do so, may in its discretion and with the permission of the owner or occupant of suitable land, designate a place where target practice with firearms may be carried on under such circumstances or conditions, regulations and restrictions as it shall impose and whenever the town council shall subsequently determine that the circumstances or conditions have altered to such an extent that the continuation of such target practice in such location is unsafe or likely to be so or that rules or regulations imposed by it have been violated or are likely to be violated or that the safety of the public is likely to be endangered, it may revoke the permission previously granted and forbid and abate such target practice, and any person engaging in target practice with any rifle, shotgun, pistol or air gun discharging balls, bullets or slugs without first obtaining permission from the town council to do so under circumstances, conditions, rules or regulations imposed by it, or so engaging after the town council shall have revoked permission to do so, shall be fined in accordance with section 1-8
(c) Discharge on Sunday. No person not being at the time under military duty, shall discharge any rifle, gun, musket, blunderbuss, fowling-piece, pistol, air gun, spring gun or other small arms or any contrivance arranged to discharge shot, bullets, arrows, darts or other missiles on Sunday anywhere within the town, except as follows:
(1) Such discharge is made on non-posted land.
(2) Such discharge is made on land owned or occupied by the person making the discharge or the person making the discharge is in possession of the written permission of the owner of the land on which such discharge is made.
Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit trap shooting or skeet shooting conducted with the permission of and under conditions set forth by the town council.
(Code 1967, §§ 23-4—23-6)
WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Refer to R.I. State Law Statutes (top of this section), no local Air-gun ordinances listed.
WEST WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL – West Warwick, Rhode Island – Code of Ordinances
Sec. 12-9. – Discharging firearms.
It shall be unlawful to discharge any firearm, BB gun or other contrivance arranged to discharge shot, bullets, arrows, darts or other missiles excepting in a regularly established shooting range; provided that this section shall not be construed to prohibit any officer of the law from discharging a firearm in the performance of his duty; nor to any citizen from discharging a firearm when lawfully defending person or property. Any person violating this section shall be fined not exceeding $100.00 or imprisoned not exceeding 30 days.
(Res. of 2-4-80)
Disclaimer
These rules and regulations were compiled to the best of my ability. The information on this article should not constitute as legal advice. Always check with your local jurisdiction for the final ruling.