All sellers of firearms are required to conduct a background check on prospective purchasers, unless the purchaser is a retail dealer, member of law enforcement, or a concealed handgun licensee.1 See the Rhode Island Background Checks section for the procedure.
All sellers (with certain exceptions) must also comply with state waiting period requirements. See the Rhode Island Waiting Periods section.
The purchaser of a handgun also must present a certificate to the seller stating that the purchaser has completed a basic handgun safety course. See the section entitled Licensing in Rhode Island for further information.
For laws requiring sellers to retain records of sales, see the section entitled Maintaining Records in Rhode Island.
For age restrictions for firearm sales, see the section entitled Rhode Island Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms.
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- R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-35, 11-47-35.1, and 11-47-35.2.[↩]