AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Permits possession or use of device that muffles sound on any firearm longer than 17” in length and permits the use of such a device by any person while hunting provided that they have a valid hunting license.)

S2306

2026 -- S 2306
========
LC003353
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

Introduced By:
Senators Rogers, E Morgan, de la Cruz, Paolino, Dimitri, and Raptakis

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 11-47-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"
2
is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

11-47-20. Sale or possession of silencers.
4

(a)
It shall be unlawful within this state to
manufacture, sell, purchase, or
possess
and/or
5
use a firearm, with an overall length of less than seventeen inches (17”), which has attached
any
6
muffler, silencer, or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm when discharged;
7
provided, however, that law enforcement officers utilizing said devices while acting within the
8
scope of their official duties, as tactical teams and under the direct supervision of the police chief
9
or the colonel of the state police or their designee, shall not be in violation of this section.
10

(b)
Violations of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year
11
and one day.
12
SECTION 2. Chapter 20-13 of the General Laws entitled "Hunting and Hunting Safety" is
13
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
14

20-13-19. Hunting with suppressors.

15

(a) Any individual in lawful possession of a device that will silence, suppress or muffle the
16
sound or natural report of a rifle or shotgun when the rifle or shotgun is discharged, may, at the
17
individual’s sole discretion, use such device to hunt any game for which the individual is licensed,
18
provided the host rifle or shotgun to which the device is attached is permitted pursuant to § 20-13-
19
13.

1

(b) No city, town, committee, board, or other state or local agency may enact rules,
2
regulations, or ordinances requiring or any other manner, mandating the use of a device that will
3
silence, suppress, or muffle the sound or natural report of a rifle or shotgun.
4
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC003353
========

LC003353 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
***
1
This act would permit the possession or use of a muffler, silencer or other device on any
2
firearm longer than seventeen inches (17”) in length and would permit the use of such a device by
3
any person while hunting provided that they have a valid hunting license at the time of use. No
4
other city or state agency may enact any rule or regulation of law affecting the right to use such a
5
device.
6
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC003353
========

LC003353 - Page 3 of 3