S 2295Non-Violent Crime Penalties

Criminal Offenses - Weapons

Limits individuals to purchasing or taking possession of only one firearm every thirty days, with penalties for violations.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Email Legislator

Introduced Jan 23, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends Rhode Island's weapons laws to restrict firearm acquisitions. Specifically, it prohibits individuals from purchasing or taking possession of more than one firearm—defined as a pistol, rifle, or shotgun—within any thirty-day period. The bill outlines several exemptions, including for law enforcement, licensed dealers, security guards, and estate heirs. Violating this law is established as a misdemeanor for the first offense, carrying potential jail time and fines, while subsequent violations are classified as felonies with increased penalties.

For younger readers

This new rule changes how people can buy guns. It says that a person is only allowed to get one new gun every thirty days, which is about one month. If someone tries to get more than one gun during that time, they could get in trouble with the police, have to pay money, or go to jail. There are special exceptions for police officers and people who need guns for their jobs, but most other people would have to follow this limit.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Gun OwnersFirearm DealersPrivate Security CompaniesLaw EnforcementGun Collectors

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

High. This bill limits the frequency of exercising a right protected by the Second Amendment. Following the Supreme Court's *Bruen* decision, regulations must be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation. Opponents will argue that rationing gun purchases to one per month has no historical analogue and effectively converts a right into a government-rationed privilege, potentially inviting a successful constitutional challenge.

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Reduces the speed at which individuals can stockpile arsenals of weapons, potentially mitigating the scale of violence in domestic terror or mass shooting scenarios.
Helps disrupt illegal gun trafficking rings by making straw purchasing (buying guns for others who cannot legally own them) more time-consuming and difficult to execute in bulk.
Prioritizes community safety and public health over the unfettered commercial sale of deadly weapons, aligning with the goal of reducing gun violence in neighborhoods.
Expands the carceral state by creating new felonies and prison sentences for non-violent purchasing offenses, which historically impacts marginalized communities disproportionately.
Maintains special privileges for law enforcement officers by exempting them from the restrictions, reinforcing a hierarchy where police have more rights than the citizens they serve.
Relies on criminalization and financial penalties ($500 to $3,000) rather than addressing the root causes of violence or investing in community-based violence intervention programs.

For Conservatives

Protects the rights of collectors by specifically exempting "curio or relic" transfers, ensuring that historical preservation and hobbyist collecting are not criminalized.
Respects property rights regarding inheritance by allowing exemptions for estate representatives and heirs acting under probate court orders.
Safeguards private commerce for specific business sectors by exempting licensed firearm dealers and private security companies from the purchasing limits.
Infringes upon Second Amendment rights by arbitrarily rationing the number of firearms a law-abiding citizen can purchase, treating a constitutional right as a limited privilege.
Punishes law-abiding citizens and hobbyists for the actions of criminals, creating a "nanny state" government that dictates how individuals spend their money.
Creates a slippery slope of government overreach where the state tracks and limits legal commerce, potentially leading to a de facto registry of gun owners.

Votes

Loading votes...

Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 18 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 11-47-65. Multiple firearm purchases prohibited.

(a) Except as provided pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, no person shall purchase or take possession of more than one firearm in any thirty (30) day period. For purposes of this section, "firearm" means any "pistol", "rifle" or "shotgun" as defined in § 11-47-2.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to federally licensed firearm dealers; governmental entities; any issuance of weapons by a governmental entity to officers, agents or personnel of the governmental entity; law enforcement officers exempt pursuant to the provisions of §§ 11-47-9 and 11-47-9.1; licensed private security companies for use by registered armed security guards; any transfer pursuant to a court order; an estate representative or heir in accordance with an authorization issued or ordered by a probate court; a temporary rental or use of a firearm at a licensed shooting range or club; a participant in a training, firearm safety or shooting course of instruction during the period of instruction; or a transfer of a weapon defined as a curio or relic pursuant to 27 C.F.R. § 478.11 to a licensed curio or relic collector.

(c) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this section upon conviction for a first offense shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than one year or fined five hundred dollars ($500), or both. Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense shall be guilty of a felony offense and may be sentenced to a period of confinement not to exceed three (3) years or fined three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.