Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-7 (2026)

Possession of firearm by alien

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) No unnaturalized foreign born person who entered the United States in violation of the laws of the United States or, having legally entered the United States in a lawful manner, but now remains in the United States in violation of the laws of the United States, shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in his or her possession or under his or her control any firearm.

(b) When any person is charged under this section, the law enforcement agency bringing the charge shall, prior to arraignment, notify the United States Office of Immigration and Naturalization of the charge and further notify the court, at arraignment, of the alleged status of the person so charged.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1973–2024 · leading case: Mosby v. Devine, 851 A.2d 1031 (R.I. 2004).
Mosby v. Devine, 851 A.2d 1031 (R.I. 2004). · cites it 4× “[11] Section 11-47-7. [12] Section 11-47-52. [13] Section 11-47-30.”
State v. Adrian Hazard, 68 A.3d 479 (R.I. 2013). · cites it 2× “1956 § 11-47-6, which prohibits ―[m]ental incompetents, drug addicts, and drunkards‖ from the possession of a firearm, and in § 11-47-7, which prohibits ―unnaturalized foreign born person[s] who entered the United States in violation of the laws of the United States or, having…”
Norman T. Gadomski, Jr. v. Joseph H. Tavares, Chief of Police for the City of East Providence, 113 A.3d 387 (R.I. 2015). “General Laws 1956 § 11-47-5 (persons convicted of crime of violence or who are fugitives from justice); § 11-47-6 (mental incompetents and drug addicts); § 11-47-7 (illegal aliens); § 11 — 47—15 (persons who have failed to meet minimum firing qualification score).”
State v. Tavarez, 572 A.2d 276 (R.I. 1990). “The defendant was charged with one count of carrying a pistol without a license in violation of G.”
State v. Storms, 308 A.2d 463 (R.I. 1973). “3 Thus, one convicted of a crime of violence or a fugitive from justice or a mentally incompetent person, a drug addict or an habitual drunkard may not carry or possess any firearm (§11-47-5 and §11-47-6), and an unnaturalized foreign-born person who has resided in the United…”
State v. Jason Ortiz (R.I. 2024). “or permit, provides in pertinent part: “The attorney general may issue a license or permit to any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over to carry a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, upon his or her person upon a proper showing of need, subject to the provisions…”
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