AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS (Requires shooting ranges 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.)

S2958

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:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended
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by adding thereto the following section:
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11-47-62.1. Shooting ranges -- Suicide awareness.
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(a) For purposes of this section the following words and phrases are construed as follows:
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(1) “Firearm” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 11-55-1.
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(2) “Shooting range” means a rifle, pistol, silhouette, skeet, trap, black powder, or other
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similar range designed and operated for the use of firearms on site, including any range located on
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public or private land or operated by a public or private entity.
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(c) Every shooting range shall conspicuously display a sign containing the information set
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forth is subsection (d) of this section, in any areas where shooting activity occurs. The signs shall
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be posted in a manner so that the sign or signs can be easily viewed by people utilizing the shooting
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range and shall not be removed, obscured or rendered illegible.
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(d) Each sign shall be at least eight and one-half inches (8.5”) high by eleven inches (11”)
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wide and feature black text against a white background and letters that are in at least thirty-six (36)
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point font. The signs shall contain the following text, in English and Spanish: “WARNING: If you
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or a loved one is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline or
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text “HOME” to 741741.
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(e) A shooting range that operates on a membership basis shall require any person who is
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not a member of the shooting range, to be accompanied at all times by a member while on the

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premises and while engaging in shooting activity.
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(f) Beginning January 1, 2027, each employee of a shooting range shall receive training,
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approved by the department of health, addressing the warning signs of suicide. The department of
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environmental management, in conjunction with the department of health, shall adopt and
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promulgate rules and regulations that the department of environmental management deems
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necessary to carry out this section.
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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
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in which shooting occurs that contain the following language: “WARNING: If you or a loved one
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is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline or text “HOME”
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to 741741. It would also require employees of the shooting range to participate in training to
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recognize the warning signs of suicide.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005507 - Page 3 of 3