Highlights:
- Rhode Island requires background checks on all gun sales.
- You can’t sell handguns to people under 21 in Rhode Island.
- Firearm application forms are necessary to buy guns in Rhode Island even when buying from private sellers.
- Private sellers have to go through federally licensed dealers to transfer guns for sale.
- Cash for Arms lets private sellers in Rhode Island get good money for their guns with a minimum of fuss.
Step 1: Check the Requirements for Gun Sellers in Rhode Island
- Federal Firearms License or FFL - Optional, but with a caveat. Unlicensed or private sellers can sell guns in Rhode Island. The catch? You still need someone with an FFL to do the transfer.
- Background checks on gun sales - Required. Rhode Island even requires background checks on buyers in private gun sales. You have to ask a dealer with an FFL to start the background check with authorities.
- Firearm purchase application forms - Required. These start the background check on your buyer. The FFL dealer processing the gun transfer should handle this for you.
- Waiting periods on gun sales - 7 days. The count starts from 12:00 (noon) of the day after the purchase application was submitted. Buyers who are law enforcement officers are exempted. You can see more exceptions in RI Gen L § 11-47-35.1.
- Gun sales tax - Currently 7%. This applies to all guns sold in the state.
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Step 2: Check the Requirements for Gun Buyers in Rhode Island
- Minimum age - 21. You can’t sell a gun to people under 21 in Rhode Island.
- Handgun permit - Required for handgun purchases. Handgun buyers also need a Blue Card proving completion of a handgun safety course.
- Right to possess firearms - Required. RI Gen L § 11-47-5 says some people can't own guns in Rhode Island. This means you can’t sell to anyone on this list:
- Illegal aliens
- Fugitives from justice
- Convicts of any crime of violence
- Convicts of offenses punishable as felonies
- Convicts of certain offenses punishable as misdemeanors under RI Gen. L. § 12-29-5
- Those who enter nolo contendere pleas to offenses under the 2 previous items
- Those adjudicated mentally incompetent
- Those committed involuntarily to mental institutions
- Those unlawfully using or addicted to controlled substances
- Those with dishonorable discharges from the Armed Forces
- Those who have renounced citizenship of the United States
- Those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes
- Those subject to domestic violence restraining or protective orders
Step 3: Do Some Market Research
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Now that you know what all that legislation boils down to, it’s time to consider pricing!
The goal is to find out what the usual price is for guns like yours. You can do that in several ways:
- Get an appraisal from an expert, like a gun store clerk or us (we can do it online and for free!).
- Check GunBroker for historical auctions of similar guns (but remember that the prices on it will be on the high end of the scale).
- Ask at gun clubs or even online gun forums about the prices others got for selling similar guns.
Remember that prices will vary from buyer to buyer. That’s why being good at haggling and collecting competing offers will help with your sale!
Step 4: Different Avenues for Selling Guns in Rhode Island
Option 1: Selling Guns to Cash for Arms
Pros:
- Easy sale with no need for background checks
- Legal sale to an FFL dealer
- Great market prices
- Several options for payment methods
Cons:
- Payment may require a short wait if your courier runs into issues
Method:
- Show us details of your gun through our website and be as detailed as possible.
- Wait for an offer, which we can usually send you in an hour.
- Accept our offer so we can send you instructions (we cover shipping and sales fees out of our own pocket!).
- Ship the gun to us with our prepaid shipping labels.
- Get paid in 24 hours of it reaching us.
For large gun collections, check out liquidation services in Rhode Island.
Option 2: Selling Guns to a Rhode Island Gun Store
Pros:
- Easy sale with no need for background checks
- Legal sale to an FFL dealer
- Payment on the spot
Cons:
- Low sale prices
- Some stores may use high-pressure tactics
Method:
- Call local gun shops to find ones interested in your gun.
- Unload the gun and clean it to prepare it for appraisal.
- Take the gun to the interested stores for an appraisal and to get offers.
- Get as many offers as you can before choosing the best one.
Option 3: Selling Guns to a Rhode Island Pawn Shop
Pros:
- Easy sale with no need for background checks
- Legal sale to an FFL dealer
- Payment on the spot
Cons:
- Usually offers the lowest sale prices among all serious buyers
Method:
- Call local pawnbrokers to find ones interested in your gun.
- Unload the gun and clean it to prepare it for appraisal.
- Take the gun to the interested shops for an appraisal and to get offers.
- Get as many offers as you can before choosing the best one.
Option 4: Selling Guns to a Private Buyer in Rhode Island
Pros:
- A chance to get the highest sale prices possible
Cons:
- High-effort and often slow sale process
- Buyer background checks are required
- Added legal responsibility to the seller
Method:
- Advertise your gun among local gun enthusiasts, such as through flyers posted at shooting clubs’ boards or through word-of-mouth.
- Wait for buyers to reach out to you and negotiate over the terms.
- Choose the best offer and meet your buyer at a Rhode Island gun store with an FFL to start the background check and sale transfer.
- Give the gun to the FFL dealer for safekeeping and wait 7 days for the background check to clear.
- Collect the payment from your buyer and let him collect the gun from the dealer.
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Your guns could be worth more than you think here in Rhode Island. From vintage hunting rifles passed down through generations to modern sporting arms, we appreciate the value of guns in Rhode Island.
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Bonus Tips for Gun Sellers in Rhode Island
There are a few things you can do to try and get the best possible sale experience. These added tips for selling guns in Rhode Island may help with that.
Tip 1. Create Accurate Gun Descriptions
This applies any time you have to describe a gun prior to letting a buyer see it in person. The more accurate you are at this stage, the fairer your buyers’ offers can be.
That means going into detail about things like these:
- Make
- Model
- Caliber
- Accessories
- Customization
- Condition (approximate rounds fired, blemishes, etc.)
Lying about something here to try and get a better price won’t help, by the way. Remember that your buyer will eventually see the gun. Once he does, he’ll probably revise his offer anyway!
Tip 2: Prepare Documentation for Safety
If you want to be as safe as possible in the sale, prepare a complete bill of sale in advance.
This bill of sale can help to protect both parties in case of disputes, as it will record some key information: the sale date, buyer and seller information, and firearm details (such as make, model, and serial number).
You can then keep this in a safe place as a reference in case a dispute ever arises as to the ownership or use of the gun. If the gun is ever stolen or used for criminal activity, for example, the bill of sale will help protect you.
Tip 3: Only Meet Private Buyers at Gun Stores/Public Spaces
If a private buyer asks to see your gun in person before doing the transfer through an FFL, that’s fine. If they ask to meet in a private place, however, it’s not.
The risk of having your gun stolen goes up dramatically in situations like that. Insist on letting them inspect the gun only at safe spaces like gun stores. Be sure to unload the gun and bring it without its ammo as well.
Conclusion
With this guide, you should now know the essentials of how to sell a gun in Rhode Island. If what you want is to get it done in as easy a way as possible, consider Cash for Arms.
Cash for Arms doesn’t require you to go through hoops to sell your gun. You can sell it to us from your home with barely any effort. At the same time, you enjoy the peace of mind that comes from selling to an FFL dealer. We basically make gun sales in Rhode Island simpler.