Prohibits purchases of more than one firearm in any thirty (30) day period.
S0286 would add a new section to Rhode Island’s weapons laws to prohibit most people from purchasing or taking possession of more than one firearm in any 30-day period. The bill defines firearm for this purpose as a pistol, rifle, or shotgun, and it applies to both purchases and taking possession, not just retail sales.
The bill includes several exemptions. The limit would not apply to federally licensed firearm dealers, governmental entities, law enforcement officers, licensed private security companies for armed guards, court-ordered transfers, probate-related transfers involving estates or heirs, temporary rentals or use at licensed shooting ranges or clubs, firearms used during training or safety courses, or transfers of curio or relic firearms to licensed collectors. The act would take effect immediately upon passage.
If enacted, the bill would amend Rhode Island General Laws chapter 11-47 by creating a new offense for multiple firearm acquisitions within a 30-day period. It would establish criminal penalties for violations: a first offense would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $500 fine, or both, and a second or subsequent offense would be a felony punishable by up to three years of confinement, a $3,000 fine, or both. The measure would directly affect firearm purchasers, dealers, collectors, law enforcement, security companies, and certain court- or probate-related transfers.
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the proposal appears to reflect a gun-control approach aimed at limiting rapid firearm acquisition while preserving a broad set of exceptions for official, instructional, and inherited transfers.
The main point of contention is likely the underlying restriction on buying more than one firearm in a 30-day period, which would be viewed by supporters as a public-safety measure and by opponents as a burden on lawful gun ownership and commerce. The exemptions suggest an effort to narrow the bill’s reach, but questions could still arise over whether the limit is effective, how it would be enforced, and whether it unduly affects collectors, lawful purchasers, or people seeking multiple firearms for legitimate purposes.