Gun Suicide Prevention Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 5306

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Commerce

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-05-08T08:06:09Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 5306: Gun Suicide Prevention Act of 2025

Purpose

The legislation aims to reduce gun-related suicides by requiring all firearms sold in the United States to include a prominent label with contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This measure seeks to increase awareness of suicide prevention resources at the point of purchase.

Key Provisions

• Labeling Mandate: It is unlawful for manufacturers or retailers to sell or offer for sale any firearm without a clear and conspicuous label attached to the firearm, its packaging, or any included descriptive materials.
• The label must be in both 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 the three-digit code 988 and the toll-free phone number (currently 1-800-273-TALK) maintained by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
• A yellow triangle with an exclamation mark must appear immediately before the words "IF YOU" on the label.
• Scope: The requirement applies to all firearms, overriding their previous exclusion from consumer product safety rules.
• Enforcement and Penalties: Violations are treated as breaches of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Penalties include civil fines up to $120,000 per violation (adjusted for inflation) and potential criminal charges for knowing violations, with imprisonment up to one year.
• Definitions: "Retailer" includes licensed firearms dealers as defined under federal gun laws.
• Effective Date: The law takes effect two years after enactment, allowing time for compliance.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Firearms are currently excluded from the definition of "consumer products" under the CPSA (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(5)(E)), meaning they are not subject to standard consumer safety labeling rules. This bill explicitly overrides that exclusion for the purpose of imposing the suicide prevention label.
• It integrates suicide prevention messaging into federal firearms sales regulations, which previously focused on safety features like childproofing but not mental health resources.
• Enforcement mechanisms from the CPSA are applied to firearms sales for the first time in this context, expanding the CPSC's oversight role.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Could raise awareness of suicide prevention services among firearm buyers and owners, potentially reducing suicide rates (firearms are used in about half of U.S. suicides). It may encourage help-seeking behavior without restricting access to guns.
• On Government Agencies: The CPSC gains authority to enforce labeling compliance, which may require additional resources for inspections and penalties. The Department of Health and Human Services (via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) maintains the Lifeline number referenced.
• On Businesses: Gun manufacturers and retailers must update packaging and materials, incurring costs for design, printing, and inventory changes. Non-compliance could lead to fines or sales disruptions.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the law applies only to U.S. sales and does not affect imports or exports beyond standard compliance.

Main Stakeholders

• Gun Manufacturers and Retailers: Primary targets for compliance, including large producers (e.g., Smith & Wesson) and small dealers.
• Firearm Purchasers and Owners: Affected by the visible messaging on purchases, potentially influencing mental health discussions.
• Mental Health Organizations: Beneficiaries, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline operators, who may see increased call volumes.
• Government Agencies: CPSC for enforcement; federal health agencies for Lifeline support.
• Advocacy Groups: Supporters include gun violence prevention advocates (e.g., Everytown for Gun Safety); opponents may include Second Amendment groups (e.g., NRA) concerned about added regulations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: By applying CPSA rules to firearms, the bill could face challenges in court over whether it improperly expands federal consumer safety authority into regulated gun sales under the Gun Control Act of 1968. However, it does not alter background checks or purchase restrictions.
• Constitutional: Potential scrutiny under the Second Amendment, as it imposes a content-based labeling requirement on firearms, though courts have upheld similar safety mandates (e.g., trigger lock rules) if they do not burden core rights.
• Political: Introduced by Democrats, it highlights bipartisan mental health concerns but may spark debates on gun control versus prevention-focused approaches. The two-year delay mitigates immediate industry backlash, but passage could signal growing federal emphasis on suicide as a public health issue tied to firearms.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-11: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Gun Suicide Prevention Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (3 pages)