Rhode Island

Will RI gun owners have to give up their ‘assault weapons’ in 2026? What to know.

Published

3 months ago

March 17, 2026

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Will RI gun owners have to give up their ‘assault weapons’ in 2026? What to know.

Rhode Island lawmakers are proposing a ban on the possession of firearms defined as “assault weapons.”
Current owners would have until December 31, 2026, to sell, transfer, or destroy the prohibited firearms.
The state’s law defines “assault weapons” based on specific features rather than by make or model.

Rhode Island lawmakers are once again attempting to ban the outright possession of a group of firearms they define as “assault weapons” after a controversial ban on the sale and manufacture of those weapons passed in 2025.

Put simply: The bills would add the word “possess” to this sentence, already in law: “No person shall manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, or purchase a prohibited firearm, except as otherwise authorized.”

When would it go into effect?: Rhode Islanders who own a prohibited firearm purchased before July 1, 2026 would have until Dec. 31, 2026 to destroy, sell or transfer the firearm to a federally licensed firearms dealer or an individual who can lawfully possess that firearm.

Why July 1? That’s when the ban on the sale, manufacture or purchase of assault weapons goes into effect in Rhode Island, so no new assault weapons would be purchased in the state after that date.

Want to learn more? Read more about the proposal below:

What do the bills to ban the possession of assault weapons say?

The two bills, H8073 in the House and S2710 in the Senate, would rewrite the current law to say: “No person shall posses, manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, or purchase a prohibited firearm, except as otherwise authorized under this section.”

It would give any Rhode Islander who “lawfully possesses a prohibited firearm prior to July 1, 2026” an opportunity to sell, offer to sell, or transfer their prohibited firearm to a federally licensed firearm dealer, or to an individual outside the state who may lawfully possess such weapon, by Dec. 31, 2026.

What is the punishment? Convictions for violating the law would come with a punishment of:

Up to 10 years in prison or
A fine up to $10,000
Prohibited firearm would be forfeited

What is considered an assault weapon in Rhode Island, by law?

Rather than focus on prohibiting specific makes and models of firearms, Rhode Island’s assault weapons ban relies on particular features of a firearm to determine whether it qualifies as an “assault weapon.”

Here’s the breakdown of prohibited features for each type of firearm:

Shotguns:

A semi-automatic shotgun that has a fixed magazine capacity exceeding six (6) rounds
Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder

Semi-automatic rifles:

A semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity exceeding ten (10) rounds
A semi-automatic rifle that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine, and has at least one of the following features:
- A folding or telescoping stock
- A bayonet mount
- A grenade launcher
- A shroud attached to the barrel or that partially or completely encircles the barrel, allowing the bearer to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned, except an extension of the stock along the bottom of the barrel, which does not encircle or substantially encircle the barrel
- A pistol grip or thumbhole stock
- A flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor

Semi-automatic pistols:

A semi-automatic pistol that has a fixed magazine capacity exceeding ten (10) rounds

Any semi-automatic firearm:

A semi-automatic firearm that has the capacity to accept a belt ammunition feeding device

What is a semi-automatic firearm? The law defines it as any firearm which fires a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger and is self-reloading or automatically chambers a round, cartridge or bullet.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for June 28, 2026

Published

3 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 28, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Numbers numbers from June 28 drawing

Midday: 7-7-1-0

Evening: 6-7-5-2

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from June 28 drawing

04-05-07-13-32, Extra: 18

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 28 drawing

04-11-31-54-58, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

Video: Massive great white shark feeds on dead whale off the coast of Rhode Island

Published

13 hours ago

June 28, 2026

Press Room

Video: Massive great white shark feeds on dead whale off the coast of Rhode Island

SEE IT: A great white shark feeds on a dead whale off the coast of Rhode Island, as the large creature comes across a whale carcass floating in the ocean.

RHODE ISLAND – It’s not often you can get so close to such a dangerous beast like a great white shark, but that is exactly what one boater was able to do in Rhode Island.

A large 15-foot great white shark was spotted feasting on a dead whale in the ocean off the coast of Rhode Island.

STAY SHARK SMART: WHAT TO KNOW WHEN YOU HEAD INTO THE WATER

Despite a reputation for inhabiting waters in Australia and South Africa, great white sharks can be found in temperate waters around the world, as their habitat preferences can change as they age, according to National Geographic.

Mexico, Great White Shark (Carcharodon Carcharias); Guadalupe Island.

(Dave Fleetham/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)

Video footage shared by Ian Shilosky shows many birds hovering around the whale carcass, trying to get a nibble without getting too close to the 15-foot beast.

SEE IT: SPERM WHALE CAUGHT ON CAMERA IN RARE ENCOUNTER OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST

The shark shows off its brutal strength, ripping large chunks from the whale with its 2 to 3-inch razor-sharp teeth, before diving underwater to consume its meal.

“White shark sightings are few and far between until a whale dies and then they seem to appear out of nowhere as this one did,” the Atlantic Shark Institute said on social media.

Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), attacking tuna bait. Neptune islands, South Australia. (Photo by Auscape/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

(Auscape/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)

The great white shark grows slowly, with males maturing at around 26 years and females at around 33, according to NOAA.

These creatures range in age from 30 to over 70 years old, and they can weigh up to 4,500 pounds.

DEEP-SEA DISCOVERY UNCOVERS ONE OF THE LARGEST KNOWN WHALE GRAVEYARDS ON THE FLOOR OF THE INDIAN OCEAN

Great White Shark breaching at Seal Island, False Bay, South Africa

( Chris Brunskill Ltd/Corbis / Getty Images)

Adult great whites usually swim along shorelines where there is a known food source, such as seals or sea lions.

12-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN BOY ATTACKED BY SHARK WHILE VACATIONING IN THE BAHAMAS

As the largest predatory fish in the world, great white sharks tend to eat a variety of fish, rays, squid, seabirds, sea turtles, dolphins and more.

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