State Gun Laws

If the abuser is ordered to give up (surrender) any guns as part of your restraining order, the judge will direct him/her to give them to:

• the Rhode Island state police or local police department; or
• a licensed gun dealer. Note: The abuser may direct the dealer to sell the gun to someone else, as long as that person isn’t the abuser’s intimate partner or related to the abuser by blood or marriage. And the person cannot return the guns to the abuser while the restraining order is active.¹

The abuser must turn in the guns within 24 hours of getting notice of the order.² Within 72 hours, the abuser must file a receipt with the court proving the guns were surrendered to the police or a licensed gun dealer.³

¹ R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 8-8.1-3(a)(4), (a)(4)(ii)-(iii), (b), (c); 15-15-3(a)(4), (a)(4)(ii)-(iii)
² R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 8-8.1-3(a)(4); 15-15-3(a)(4)
³ R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 8-8.1-3(a)(4)(i)(A); 15-15-3(a)(4)(i)(A)