RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS -- RESPONSIBLE FIREARM, PURCHASING ACT
H7755, titled the “Responsible Firearm Purchasing Act,” revises Rhode Island’s firearm purchase and safety-training requirements. The bill amends § 11-47-35 to broaden and standardize the rules for purchasing firearms, including pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns, and updates the application forms and processing procedures used by sellers and law enforcement. It preserves the existing seven-day waiting period for firearm transfers, requires purchasers to complete and sign an application, and directs sellers to submit copies of the application to local police or state police for a background check before delivery.
A major change in the bill is the replacement of the Department of Environmental Management’s role in handgun safety certification with the Office of the Attorney General for firearm safety training certification and instructor oversight. The bill requires a basic firearm safety training course and written test, sets minimum curriculum topics, allows certain prior hunter-safety training to count, and creates exemptions for active-duty military, certain reserve and National Guard members, and specified law-enforcement personnel. It also repeals §§ 11-47-35.1 and 11-47-35.2, which separately governed exemptions and rifle/shotgun sales, consolidating the purchase rules into a single updated section.
The bill would substantially amend Rhode Island’s weapons laws in Chapter 11-47 by replacing the existing separate handgun and long-gun purchase provisions with a unified firearm purchase framework. It shifts certification and instructor authority from the Department of Environmental Management to the Office of the Attorney General, expands the safety-training requirement, and updates background-check, recordkeeping, and application procedures for firearm sales. It also repeals two existing statutory sections governing exemptions and rifle/shotgun sales, thereby restructuring the statutory scheme for firearm purchases and possession-related certification.
Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and responsible-purchasing proposal, with an emphasis on training, background checks, and standardized procedures. No committee transcript or vote record is available here, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to indicate broader support or opposition. The bill’s structure suggests an intent to strengthen firearm safety requirements while preserving exemptions for law enforcement and military personnel.
The most likely points of contention are the expanded mandatory training requirement for firearm purchasers, the transfer of administrative authority to the Attorney General, and the practical burden on buyers and sellers of firearms. Gun-rights advocates may object to the added training, testing, and paperwork requirements, while supporters are likely to argue that the bill improves safety and ensures responsible ownership. The bill also creates a transition issue by allowing older safety certificates to remain valid only until January 1, 2031, which may draw attention from affected purchasers and training providers.