AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS -- RESPONSIBLE FIREARM PURCHASING ACT (Changes the application to purchase a firearm. Further, this act would require all persons seeking to possess a firearm except for police and military personnel to complete and pass a basic firearm safety training course.)

S2726

2026 -- S 2726
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LC005094
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS -- RESPONSIBLE FIREARM
PURCHASING ACT

Introduced By:
Senators McKenney, Bissaillon, Britto, Gu, Zurier, DiPalma, Murray, and
Euer

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Responsible Firearm
2
Purchasing Act."
3
SECTION 2. Section 11-47-35 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"
4
is hereby amended to read as follows:
5

11-47-35.
Sale of concealable weapons — Safety courses and tests — Issuance of
6
permits to certain government officers.
Sale of firearms - - Safety courses and tests - - Issuance
7
of permits to certain government officers.
8

(a) As used in this section,
9

“Firearm” means a rifle, shotgun, pistol, or revolver.
10

(a)
(b)
(1) No person shall deliver a
pistol or revolver

firearm
to a purchaser until seven (7)
11
days shall have elapsed from twelve o’clock (12:00) noon of the day following the day of
12
application for the purchase, and when delivered, the
pistol or revolver

firearm
shall be unloaded
13
and securely wrapped, with the bill of sale to be enclosed within the wrapper with the
pistol or
14
revolver

firearm
. Any citizen of the United States and/or lawful resident of this state who is twenty-
15
one (21) years of age or older, and any nonresident member of the armed forces of the United States
16
who is stationed in this state and who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older,
not otherwise
17
prohibited by federal or state law,
may, upon application, purchase or acquire a
pistol or revolver

18
firearm
. At the time of applying for the purchase of a
concealable
firearm, the purchaser shall: (i)

1
Complete and sign in triplicate and deliver to the person selling the
pistol or revolver

firearm
the
2
application form described in this section
, and in no case shall it contain the serial number of the

3
pistol or revolver the application form described in this section, and in no case shall it contain the
4
serial number of the pistol or revolver
; and (ii) Present to the person selling the
pistol or revolver

5
firearm
a
valid firearm

pistol/revolver
safety
training
certificate issued by the
department of
6
environmental management

office of the attorney general
. The certificate shall be retained in the
7
possession of the buyer. The
pistol/revolver

firearm
safety
training
certificate shall certify that the
8
purchaser has completed
a

and passed an approved
basic
pistol/revolver

firearm
safety
training

9
course
as shall be administered by the department of environmental management

within the
10
previous five (5) years
.
Until January 1, 2031, a purchaser may comply with the requirements of
11
this section by presenting a firearm safety certificate issued by the department of environmental
12
management prior to the effective date of this section.
13
(Face of application form)
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Application to Purchase
Pistol or Revolver

Firearm
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Date ......................................... Hour ......................................... A.M. P.M.
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Name .........................................
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Address .........................................
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(Street and number) (City or town) (State)
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Date of Birth ......................................... Place of Birth .........................................
20
Height ......................................... Weight ...................................... Color hair ....................
21
Color eyes .........................................
22
Scars .........................................
23
Tattoos .........................................
24
Other identifying marks .........................................
25
Are you a citizen of the United States .........................................
26
Are you a citizen of Rhode Island .........................................
27
How long .........................................
28
Where stationed .........................................
29
(Armed Forces only)
30
Number of
pistols and/or revolvers

firearm(s)
to be purchased .........................................
31
Type of firearm(s) to be purchased (e.g. rifle, shotgun, pistol or revolver) .........................
32
Serial Number(s)………………………………………….
33
Have you ever been convicted of a crime of violence .........................................
34
(See § 11-47-2)

LC005094 - Page 2 of 10
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Have you ever been adjudicated or under confinement as addicted to a
2
controlled substance ...............................................
3
Have you ever been adjudicated or under confinement for alcoholism .............................
4
Have you ever been confined or treated for mental illness .........................................
5
From whom is
pistol or revolver

firearm(s)
being purchased .........................................
6
Seller’s address .........................................
7
Seller’s signature .........................................
8
Applicant’s signature .........................................
9
(See § 11-47-23 for penalty for false information on this application)
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(Reverse side of application form)
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AFFIDAVIT: I certify that I have read and am familiar with the provisions of §§ 11-47-1
12
— 11-47-55, inclusive, of the general laws of the State of Rhode Island, and that I am aware of
13
the penalties for violation of the provisions of the cited sections. I further certify that I have
14
completed the required basic
pistol/revolver

firearm
safety
training
course.
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Signed .........................................
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(over)
17
County of .........................................
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State of Rhode Island
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Subscribed and sworn before me this ..... day of ...... A.D. 20... .
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Notary Public
21
..............................
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(2) The person selling the
pistol or revolver

firearm
shall on the date of application sign
23
and forward by registered mail, by delivery in person, or by electronic mail if approved by the
24
applicable police department, the original and duplicate copies of the application to the chief of
25
police in the city or town in which the purchaser has their residence or to the superintendent of the
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Rhode Island state police in the instance where the purchaser either resides in the town of Exeter
27
or resides out of state. The superintendent of the Rhode Island state police or the chief of police in
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the city or town in which the purchaser has their residence shall mark or stamp the original copy of
29
the application form with the date and the time of receipt and return it by the most expeditious
30
means to the person who is selling the
pistol or revolver

firearm
. The triplicate copy duly signed
31
by the person who is selling the
pistol or revolver

firearm
shall within seven (7) days be sent by
32
them by registered mail, by delivery in person, or by electronic mail to the attorney general. The
33
person who is selling the
pistol or revolver

firearm
shall retain the original copy duly receipted by
34
the police authority to whom sent or delivered for a period of six (6) years with other records of the

LC005094 - Page 3 of 10
1
sale. It shall be the duty of the police authority to whom the duplicate copy of the application form
2
is sent or delivered to make a background check of the applicant to ascertain whether the applicant
3
falls under the provisions of
§
§§ 8-8.3-4, 8-8.3-5,
11-47-5,
11-47-5.4,

§
11-47-6,
§
11-47-7,
or §

4
11-47-23
or any other applicable state or federal law
.
Upon notice from the investigating police
5
authority that the applicant is not disqualified, the seller

If, after the lapse of seven (7) days from
6
twelve o’clock (12:00) noon of the day following application, no disqualifying information has
7
been received from the investigating police authority by the person who is selling the pistol or
8
revolver, the person
will deliver the firearm applied for to the purchaser. Upon the finding of no
9
disqualifying information under the provisions of the above cited
sections of this chapter

statutes
,
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and in no case later than thirty (30) days after the date of application, the duplicate and triplicate
11
copies of the application will be destroyed. Retention of the duplicate and triplicate copies in
12
violation of this section or any unauthorized use of the information contained in the copies by a
13
person or agency shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). The
14
provisions of this section shall not apply to bona fide sales at wholesale to duly licensed retail
15
dealers, nor to purchases by retail dealers duly licensed under the provisions of § 11-47-39.
16

(b)
(c)
(1)
The department of environmental management shall establish the basic
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pistol/revolver safety course required by this section. The safety course shall consist of not less
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than two (2) hours of instruction in the safe use and handling of pistols and revolvers and the course
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shall be available to buyers continually throughout the year at convenient times and places but at
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least monthly at locations throughout the state, or more frequently as required. Proficiency in the
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use of pistols or revolvers shall not be prerequisite to the issuance of the safety certificate. No
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person shall be required to complete the course more than once; provided, that any person
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completing the course who is unable to produce the safety certificate issued by the department of
24
environmental management shall be required to take the course again unless the person provides
25
evidence to the department that the person has successfully completed the course

The office of the
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attorney general shall certify persons as basic firearm safety training course instructors, certify
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safety training course curriculum, and maintain a publicly accessible list of approved basic firearm
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safety training courses and instructors. Certification as a basic firearm safety training course
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instructor shall be valid for a period of ten (10) years, unless sooner revoked by reason of
30
unsuitability, at the discretion of the office of the attorney general. Basic firearm safety training
31
course instructors shall be competent to give instruction in a basic firearm safety training course,
32
as determined by criteria established by the office of the attorney general
.
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(2)
The administration of the basic pistol/revolver safety course required by this section
34
shall not exceed the cost of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) in any fiscal year.

The curriculum

LC005094 - Page 4 of 10
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for a basic firearm safety training course shall consist of not less than eight (8) hours of instruction
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and must include at least all of the following topics:
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(i) Instruction regarding knowledge and safe handling of firearms and ammunition;
4

(ii) Instruction regarding child safety and secure storage of firearms and ammunition;
5

(iii) Instruction regarding safe firearm shooting fundamentals;
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(iv) Identification of ways to develop and maintain firearm shooting skills;
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(v) Instruction regarding federal and state laws pertaining to the lawful purchase,
8
ownership, transportation, use, and possession of firearms;
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(vi) Instruction regarding the laws of the state pertaining to the use of deadly force;
10

(vii) Instruction regarding disengagement tactics and conflict resolution;
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(viii) Instruction regarding injury and suicide prevention; and
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(ix) Live fire training.
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(3) Upon completion of an approved basic firearm safety training course, a person must
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pass a standardized written test developed by the office of the attorney general on the subject matter
15
covered in the course to demonstrate competency in the required topics. The office of the attorney
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general shall review and amend, as needed, the test at least every two (2) years to reflect changes
17
in the law and other topics that it deems necessary. Any person who has completed the basic
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firearms safety training course and has passed the test shall be eligible to receive a firearm safety
19
training certificate.
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(4) The office of the attorney general shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations that
21
it deems necessary to carry out this section.
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(c) Proof of passage of the department of environmental management’s basic hunter safety
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course will be equivalent to the pistol/revolver safety certificate mandated by this section.
24

(d) Any person who has reason to believe that they do not need the required handgun safety
25
course may apply by any written means to the department of environmental management to take
26
an objective test on the subject matter of the handgun safety course. The test shall be prepared, as
27
well as an instruction manual upon which the test shall be based, by the department. The manual
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shall be made available by any means to the applicant who may, within the time limits for
29
application, take the objective test at the department or at any location where the handgun safety
30
course is being given. Any person receiving a passing grade on the test shall be issued a
31
pistol/revolver safety certificate by the department.
32

(e) [Deleted by P.L. 2005, ch. 20, § 11 and P.L. 2005, ch. 27, § 11.]
33

(f)
(d)
The following persons shall be issued basic
pistol/revolver permits

firearm safety
34
training certificates
by the
department of environmental management

office of the attorney general
:

LC005094 - Page 5 of 10
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sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, the superintendent and members of the state police,
members of the capitol
2
police,
prison or jail wardens or their deputies, members of the city or town police force, members
3
of the park police, conservation officers, members of the airport police and officers of the United
4
States government authorized by law to carry a concealed firearm and, at the discretion of the
5
department of environmental management

office of the attorney general
, any person who can
6
satisfactorily establish that he or she formerly held one of these offices or were so authorized.
7

(g)
(e)
Any person who is serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space
8
Force, or Coast Guard on active duty shall not be required to obtain a basic
pistol/revolver

firearm

9
safety
training
certificate
or basic pistol/revolver permit under this section
so long as the person
10
remains on active duty.
11

(h)
(f)
Any person who is serving in the active reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air
12
Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard, or any person in an active duty paid status in
13
the Rhode Island National Guard, shall not be required to obtain a basic
pistol/revolver

firearm

14
safety
training
certificate under this section so long as the person remains in active status.
15

(g) The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons licensed under §§ 11-47-9 and
16
11-47-11, or to the sale of air rifles, BB guns, or antique firearms as defined in § 11-47-2.
17
SECTION 2. Sections 11-47-35.1 and 11-47-35.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47
18
entitled "Weapons" are hereby repealed.
19

11-47-35.1. Persons exempt from § 11-47-35.
20

The provisions of § 11-47-35 shall not apply to full-time members of the state police, full-
21
time members of the capitol police, full-time members of city or town police departments, or capitol
22
police or correctional officers or persons licensed under § 11-47-11.
23

11-47-35.2. Sale of rifles/shotguns.
24

(a) No person shall deliver a rifle or shotgun to a purchaser until seven (7) days shall have
25
elapsed from twelve o’clock (12:00) noon of the day following the day of application for the
26
purchase, and when delivered, the rifle or shotgun shall be unloaded and securely wrapped, with
27
the bill of sale for it to be enclosed within the wrapper with the rifle or shotgun. Any citizen of the
28
United States and/or lawful resident of this state who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older, and
29
any nonresident member of the armed forces of the United States who is stationed in this state and
30
who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older, may, upon application, purchase or acquire a rifle or
31
shotgun. At the time of applying for the purchase of a shotgun or rifle the purchaser shall complete
32
and sign in triplicate and deliver to the seller the application form described in this section, and in
33
no case shall it contain the serial number of the rifle or shotgun.
34
(Face of application form)

LC005094 - Page 6 of 10
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Application to Purchase Shotgun or Rifle
2
Date ………………………………………… Hour ………………………………… A.M. P.M.
3
Name
4
Address
5

(Street and number) (City or town) (State)
6
Date of Birth Place of Birth
7
Height Weight Color hair
8
Color eyes
9
Scars
10
Tattoos
11
Other identifying marks
12
Are you a citizen of the United States
13
Are you a citizen of Rhode Island
14
How long
15
Where stationed
16
(Armed Forces only)
17
Number of rifles and/or shotguns to be purchased
18
Have you ever been convicted of a crime of violence
19
(See § 11-47-2 General Laws of Rhode Island)
20
Have you ever been adjudicated or under confinement as addicted to a controlled substance
21

22
Have you ever been adjudicated or under confinement for alcoholism
23

24
Have you ever been confined or treated for mental illness
25
From whom is shotgun or rifle being purchased
26
Seller's address
27
Seller's signature
28
Applicant's signature
29
(See § 11-47-23 for penalty for false information on this application)
30
(Reverse side of application form)
31
AFFIDAVIT: I certify that I have read and am familiar with the provisions of §§ 11-47-1 — 11-
32
47-59, inclusive, of the general laws of the State of Rhode Island, and that I am aware of the
33
penalties for violation of the provisions of the cited sections.
34
Signed

LC005094 - Page 7 of 10
1
County of
2
State of Rhode Island
3
Subscribed and sworn before me this ……… day of ……. A.D. 20....
4

Notary Public
5

......................................
6

(b) The person who is selling the rifle or shotgun shall, on the date of application, sign and
7
forward by registered mail or by delivery in person, or by electronic mail if approved by the
8
applicable police department, the original and duplicate copies of the application to the chief of
9
police in the city or town in which the purchaser has his or her residence or to the superintendent
10
of the Rhode Island state police in the instance where the purchaser either resides in the town of
11
Exeter or resides out of state. The superintendent of the Rhode Island state police or the chief of
12
police in the city or town in which the purchaser has his or her residence shall mark or stamp the
13
original copy of the application form with the date and time of receipt and return it by the most
14
expeditious means to the seller. The triplicate copy duly signed by the seller shall within seven (7)
15
days be sent by him or her by registered mail, by delivery in person, or by electronic mail, to the
16
attorney general. The person who is selling the rifle or shotgun shall retain the original copy duly
17
receipted by the police authority to whom sent or delivered for a period of six (6) years with other
18
records of the sale. It shall be the duty of the police authority to whom the duplicate copy of the
19
application form is sent or delivered to make a background check of the applicant to ascertain
20
whether he or she falls under the provisions of § 11-47-5, § 11-47-6, § 11-47-7, or § 11-47-23. If,
21
after the lapse of seven (7) days from twelve o’clock (12:00) noon of the day following application,
22
no disqualifying information has been received from the investigating police authority by the
23
person who is selling the rifle or shotgun, he or she will deliver the firearm applied for to the
24
purchaser. Upon the finding of no disqualifying information under the provisions of the above cited
25
sections of this chapter, and in no case later than thirty (30) days after the date of application, the
26
duplicate and triplicate copies of the application will be destroyed. Retention of the duplicate and
27
triplicate copies in violation of this chapter or any unauthorized use of the information contained
28
in them by a person or agency shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars
29
($1,000). The provisions of this section shall not apply to bona fide sales at wholesale to duly
30
licensed retail dealers, nor to purchases by retail dealers duly licensed under the provisions of § 11-
31
47-39.
32

(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to full-time members of the state police,
33
full-time members of city or town police departments, persons licensed under §§ 11-47-9 and 11-
34
47-11, or to sales of air rifles or “BB guns” or to sales of antique firearms as defined in § 11-47-2.

LC005094 - Page 8 of 10
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005094
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LC005094 - Page 9 of 10
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS -- RESPONSIBLE FIREARM
PURCHASING ACT
***
1
This act would change the application to purchase a firearm. Further, this act would require
2
all persons seeking to possess a firearm except for police and military personnel to complete and
3
pass a basic firearm safety training course.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005094
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LC005094 - Page 10 of 10