2026 -- S 2958

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LC005507

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Lauria, DiMario, and LaMountain

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following section:

     11-47-62.1. Shooting ranges -- Suicide awareness.

     (a) For purposes of this section the following words and phrases are construed as follows:

     (1) “Firearm” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 11-55-1.

     (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.

     (c) Every shooting range shall conspicuously display a sign containing the information set

forth is subsection (d) of this section, in any areas where shooting activity occurs. The signs shall

be posted in a manner so that the sign or signs can be easily viewed by people utilizing the shooting

range and shall not be removed, obscured or rendered illegible.

     (d) 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.

     (e) 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 while on the

premises and while engaging in shooting activity.

     (f) Beginning January 1, 2027, each employee of a shooting range shall receive training,

approved by the department of health, addressing the warning signs of suicide. The department of

environmental management, in conjunction with the department of health, shall adopt and

promulgate rules and regulations that the department of environmental management deems

necessary to carry out this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

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     This act would require any shooting range operating in this state to post signs in any area

in which shooting occurs that contain the following language: “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. It would also require employees of the shooting range to participate in training to

recognize the warning signs of suicide.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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