What is required to sell a firearm privately in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, a key requirement for selling a firearm privately is performing a background check on the buyer. This step is crucial to ensure that individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms, such as convicted felons or individuals with certain restraining orders, do not acquire firearms. The background check helps promote public safety and responsible firearm ownership.

While notifying the local police department and registering the sale with the state are important practices in some jurisdictions, they are not universal requirements in Rhode Island for private sales. Therefore, knowing that a background check is mandatory aligns with the core tenet of firearm safety and regulation in the state, making it a critical aspect of the private sale process.