I was just wondering about this .I was reading RI gun laws recently. It was at the top of the page a little chart yes/no type deal just a quick reference for the basic laws . So it would say handgun then permit to own no rifle permit to own no . Handgun permit to buy and so on . It says hand gun permit to carry yes rifle permit to carry no. ? So what exactly does that mean ? Carry to and from the range ? I don't think so cause there was a section for transport. So idk carrying an unloaded rifle is kinda pointless. I found this on a few different sites where it says hand gun /licences to carry yes rifle license to carry no !? Idk what it means .
Also the place where I bought my AR in Rhode Island I had to leave the store with it in a locked case. I mentioned going to the range that was he said oh you don't have to do that. It has to leave here locked cause this store is in a school zone. If it were not you could walk out of here with it slung over your shoulder and you can just throw it on the back seat! Can't seem to get a straight answer anywhere!!
Caveat: this is not legal advice and I'm not a lawyer.
First, RI's carry permit system doesn't function like Mass's. RI's permit system only regulates carrying of handguns. The antis, particularly Harold Metts, have been pushing for a ban on long gun open carry (as in loaded, open carry of long guns) for the past five years or so. Such a ban doesn't exist.
Second, while 11-47-8 and 11-47-11 only say "pistols and revolvers," the statutes have been applied to carrying long guns. One example is
State v. Keiser, 796 A.2d 471, 472-473 (R.I. 2002). 11-47-9, the exemptions statute to the carry permit statutes, has specific elements to allow the exemption to apply and the guns must be:
*Unloaded
*Not easily accessible from the passenger compartment (front seats of a sedan, cab of a truck)
*If the vehicle doesn't have a separate passenger compartment, the gun must be in a locked container
You have two options if you don't have a carry permit. Comply with 11-47-9 because "just in case" or don't and if you get pulled over and arrested, be prepared to overturn
Keiser. I will say, the defendant in
Keiser was arrested per two active warrants. He may have been jacked up because he was already committing a crime by evading arrest. Being an otherwise lawful citizen not perpetuating a crime is a key distinction.
...
Leaving the gun store with a gun lock on the gun largely is store policy. I can't recall being told to lock up a gun by a RI gun store after buying it. Stores are required by 11-47-60.3 to have you leave the store with a lock:
11-47-60.3
Note that 11-47-60.3 only applies to "purchasers" of guns. Not taking guns in for gunsmithing work, etc.