Gun Suicide Prevention Act

Summary#

This bill would make it illegal for a manufacturer or retailer to sell a firearm unless the firearm, its packaging, or any descriptive material included with it carries a clear and visible label with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number. The label must be in English and Spanish. The English text must read: "IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT" followed by 988 and the toll-free number maintained by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, or any successor number. The label must include a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark immediately before the words "IF YOU." The bill treats violations like violations of the Consumer Product Safety Act and applies the penalties found in sections 20 and 21 of that Act. The term "retailer" includes dealers as defined in federal law. The law would take effect two years after enactment.

What it means for you#

  • Manufacturers and retailers who sell or offer firearms would need to attach or include the specified bilingual label on each firearm or its packaging and descriptive materials.
  • The required English wording, the 988 number, and the yellow-triangle symbol must appear exactly as described in the bill.
  • Sellers who do not comply would be subject to enforcement and penalties under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
  • The requirement would begin two years after the law is enacted.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated costs, budgetary effects, or specific penalty amounts is included in the bill text. The bill refers to existing penalty provisions in the Consumer Product Safety Act but does not state dollar amounts or enforcement cost estimates.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s title and text indicate the measure is intended to make the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (988) clearly available on firearms and their packaging, so people contemplating suicide or those who see a firearm could more easily find immediate help.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' views or arguments is included in the bill text or the provided metadata.