Bill Analysis
S2710 is the Senate companion to House Bill H8073. It makes possession of Rhode Island’s “prohibited firearms” a felony, eliminating the grandfather clause that allowed existing owners to keep firearms they legally purchased before the 2025 ban took effect.
The Key Change
The 2025 law (Chapter 11-47.2) prohibited the manufacture, sale, transfer, and purchase of “prohibited firearms” but left existing owners alone. S2710 adds one word to the statute: possession. Rhode Islanders who legally own these firearms before July 1, 2026 would be required to dispose of them or face felony charges.
What It Means for Gun Owners
Current owners would have until December 31, 2026 to either sell to a federally licensed dealer or transfer the firearm to someone outside Rhode Island who can legally possess it. After that deadline, simply keeping the firearm becomes a felony regardless of when or how it was acquired.
Penalties:
- Up to 10 years in prison
- Fines up to $10,000
- Permanent forfeiture of the firearm
Email and Petition
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