Permits Rhode Island residents, 21 years of age or older, to carry a concealed handgun, without a permit.

Rhode Island Concealed Carry Without a Permit Bill

This bill would allow Rhode Island residents who are 21 years of age or older to carry a concealed handgun in public without needing to obtain a permit first. Under current Rhode Island law, residents must apply for and receive a license or permit before legally carrying a concealed firearm. This proposal would remove that requirement, meaning eligible adults could legally carry a hidden handgun without going through the existing application and approval process.

The bill would affect any Rhode Island resident aged 21 or older who wishes to carry a concealed handgun. It would not automatically override other existing laws, meaning people who are already prohibited from owning or possessing firearms — such as those with certain criminal convictions — would still be barred from doing so. Law enforcement agencies could also be impacted, as they would no longer be able to use the absence of a permit as a basis for a violation when encountering someone carrying a concealed weapon.

This type of policy is sometimes referred to as "permitless carry" or "constitutional carry," and has been adopted in a number of other states across the country. The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which means it is in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on. The committee will decide whether to advance the bill for further consideration by the full Senate.