Here is the thing: Technically, a private sale in Rhode Island does exist but it requires you to copy down all of the information about the seller (see the state statutes, it's a long list of BS) and send it to local PD which is then supposed to do a background check. If they do not respond in 7 days, you can hand the buyer the gun.
But the problem is that PD's in Rhode Island REFUSE to acknowledge the law as written and will argue that a private sale is illegal and will ONLY do background checks for FFL's. Whether they believe this or not or are just being assh@les is anyones guess. But they break they law (cops break the law
) everytime they do it.
I personally would never do a private sale in Rhode Island unless the buyer has a town pistol permit. In that case, law exempts the buyer from the background check and the private sale is a no brainer. Frankly, the PD's make it impossible any other way than if the buyer has a town permit so there is no point in trying, if you want to stay within the law.
But if my Dad lived in Rhode Island (and for the record, he does not) who is to tell him or me whether he or I own the gun?
Guns are not cars and when I say, "lets not be stupid" I mean that we should realize that there is no way for a law enforcement agency to determine how and when the firearm was purchased or by who without a considerable amount of legwork which is unlikely to be worth their time unless a crime was committed with the weapon. Guns are not cars. There is no "title" to a gun. Their is no state record on file (in Rhode Island). If you move back into Massachusetts with a firearm, it's your firearm! They don't ask for a receipt at the state line.
If you really want a receipt, a proof of ownership, get it transferred from son to father in RI for $35. But you don't need it.
A caveat- this all assumes your buddy and his father are not whacko's that plan on using that double-barrelled shotgun to go on a killing spree….