The bill amends Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws, titled "Weapons," by introducing a new section, 11-47-65, which mandates background checks for the purchase or transfer of ammunition. Under this new provision, no person, except active law enforcement officers, may sell, transfer, or deliver ammunition, shotgun shells, gun powder, primer, bullets, or ammunition loading components without first obtaining a completed background check from the state police, a municipal law enforcement agency, or the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The bill prohibits the sale or transfer of ammunition to individuals who are legally barred from possessing firearms, including those specified in sections 11-47-5, 11-47-6, 11-47-7, 11-47-23, 11-47-30, or 11-47-31. It also establishes that individuals prohibited from possessing firearms cannot possess ammunition, with violations subject to penalties of up to one year in prison or fines of up to $1,000. Upon receiving a background check that reveals no disqualifying information, sellers may proceed with the sale or transfer of ammunition.

Additionally, the provisions of this section do not apply to bona fide sales at wholesale to licensed retail dealers. Any seller or transferee violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 per violation. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.