S2958APublic Health

Criminal Offenses - Weapons

This bill requires shooting ranges to post suicide hotline signs and mandates supervision for non-members at membership-based ranges.

Introduced38 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting

Population
Affected

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Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This bill requires all shooting ranges in the state to display a specific warning sign about suicide awareness and prevention in areas where shooting occurs. The sign must include the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline and a text number, printed in both English and Spanish, and must meet specific size and font requirements. Additionally, the bill mandates that at membership-based shooting ranges, any non-member must be accompanied by a member or staff member at all times while on the premises and participating in shooting activities.

For younger readers

This bill makes rules for places where people go to practice shooting guns, called shooting ranges. First, it says these places must put up signs with a phone number people can call or text if they are feeling very sad or having a hard time. The signs have to be in both English and Spanish. Second, if the shooting range is a private club where you need a membership to join, anyone who is not a member has to stay with a member or an employee the whole time they are there.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Shooting range ownersShooting range membersShooting range guestsIndividuals experiencing mental health crisesFirearm owners

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

There is a minor First Amendment compelled speech risk, as the government is mandating private businesses to display specific text. However, courts generally uphold compelled commercial disclosures if they are factual, non-controversial, and serve a substantial state interest (like public health and suicide prevention). Therefore, it is highly likely to be found constitutional.

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Promotes mental health awareness and provides immediate access to crisis resources in environments with lethal means, potentially preventing tragic outcomes.
Mandates bilingual signage in English and Spanish, ensuring that life-saving mental health information is accessible to a broader and more diverse population.
Increases safety at membership-based shooting ranges by requiring non-members to be supervised, which promotes responsible gun use and community welfare.
Relies heavily on individuals in crisis to self-report or reach out for help rather than addressing the systemic root causes of mental health crises or gun violence.
Does not include any state funding or subsidies to help shooting ranges cover the costs of printing and maintaining the mandated signs.
Fails to establish enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or oversight to ensure that shooting ranges actually comply with the signage and supervision requirements.

For Conservatives

Addresses mental health and suicide prevention without infringing on Second Amendment rights or restricting lawful gun ownership.
Places the responsibility of supervision on private clubs and their members, utilizing private-sector self-regulation rather than creating a new government oversight agency.
Focuses on providing a suicide prevention hotline rather than expanding costly government-funded mental health programs.
Imposes new, unfunded government mandates on private businesses by dictating the exact size, font, and wording of signs they must display on their property.
Restricts the operational freedom of private shooting clubs by legally mandating how they must handle and supervise their guests.
Mandates that the signage must be printed in Spanish as well as English, which conflicts with conservative preferences for English as the standard language.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 versions

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 18 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 11-47-60.5. Suicide awareness at shooting ranges.

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Firearm” shall have the same definition as provided in § 11-55-1; and

(2) “Shooting range” means a rifle, pistol, silhouette, skeet, trap, black powder, or other similar range designed and operated for the use of firearms on site, including any range located on public or private land or operated by a public or private entity.

(b) Every shooting range shall conspicuously display a sign containing the information set forth is subsection (c) of this section, in any areas where shooting activity occurs. The required signs shall be posted in a manner in order that they can be easily viewed by people utilizing the shooting range and shall not be removed, obscured or rendered illegible.

(c) Each sign shall be at least eight and one-half inches (8.5”) high by eleven inches (11”) wide and feature black text against a white background and letters that are in at least thirty-six (36) point font. The signs shall contain the following text, in English and Spanish: “WARNING: If you or a loved one is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline or text “HOME” to 741741”. The signs shall not contain any other text.

(d) A shooting range that operates on a membership basis shall require any person who is not a member of the shooting range, to be accompanied at all times by a member of the range or staff member of the range while on the premises and while engaging in shooting activity.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.