(a)  It shall be unlawful within this state for any person to transfer, give, convey, or cause to be transferred, given, or conveyed any firearm to any person under eighteen (18) years of age, when the person knows or has reason to know that the recipient is under eighteen (18) years of age, except for the limited purposes set forth in § 11-47-33 and § 11-47-34 [repealed] and with the prior approval or consent of the parent or legal guardian of the minor.

criminal case

Have a question?
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-30

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Firearm: includes any machine gun, pistol, rifle, air rifle, air pistol, "blank gun" "BB gun" or other instrument from which steel or metal projectiles are propelled, or that may readily be converted to expel a projectile, except crossbows, recurve, compound, or longbows, and except instruments propelling projectiles that are designed or normally used for a primary purpose other than as a weapon. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-2
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: includes an individual, partnership, firm, association, or corporation. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-2
  • Pistol: includes any pistol or revolver, and any shotgun, rifle, or similar weapon with overall length less than twenty-six inches (26?), but does not include any pistol or revolver designed for the use of blank cartridges only. See Rhode Island General Laws 11-47-2

(b)  Every person violating this section shall be punished, upon conviction, by imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years and not more than twenty (20) years. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to any federally and state licensed retail dealer who makes reasonable efforts to verify a purchaser’s age and shall not apply to the sale of an air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun”, or “BB gun.”

History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 404, § 21; P.L. 1950, ch. 2452, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 11-47-24; G.L. 1956, § 11-47-30; P.L. 1959, ch. 75, § 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 278, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 389, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 158, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 285, § 1; P.L. 2022, ch. 135, § 1, effective June 21, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 136, § 1, effective June 21, 2022.