Chapter 23 — SUICIDE PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS AT FIREARM STORES AND FIREARM DEALERS

This chapter is enacted to enhance public health and welfare by increasing awareness of suicide prevention information and services in locations likely to be visited by individuals who may want to purchase or rent firearms and by requiring training for employees at such establishments to recognize signs of suicidal behavior.

(Ord. 21-910, § 2)

For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

"Firearm" means a device, designated to be used as a weapon, from which a projectile is expelled through a barrel, by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.

"Dealer" means any person who is engaged in the business of selling firearms at wholesale or retail.

"Firing range" means any shooting gallery, rifle range, gun club, trap shooting range, or other place where firearms are discharged.

"Suicide prevention training" means workshop training (either in-person or online) to educate employees about suicidal risk factors, to be able to intervene with a suicidal individual, and to help identify and access resources available to assist a person in crisis.

"Firearm rental agreement" means a written agreement between the firing range or dealer and the customer establishing the terms and conditions of renting a firearm at their facility. (Ord. 21-910, § 2)

• (a) Any firearm dealer or owner of a firing range shall post or cause to be posted a sign as provided in this section on the retail premises of the firearm dealer or the premises of the firing range.

• (b) The sign required by this section shall read substantially as follows:

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• (c) The sign shall not be smaller than eight inches wide and eleven and one-half (11.5) inches long, nor shall any lettering on the sign be less than one inch in height.

• (d) A firearm dealer or firing range owner shall post or cause to be posted the sign required by this section in a conspicuous location at either its purchase counter or customer service counter.

• (e) The sign required by this section shall be worded in both English and Spanish. (Ord. 21-910, § 2)

• (a) Firearm dealers and firing ranges shall provide suicide prevention trainings to employees that cover the following:

  • (1) Recognizing the warning signs of suicidal behavior;

  • (2) How to speak to and address a suicidal individual; and

  • (3) How to provide resources to assist a person in crisis.

• (b) Employers must hold proof of employee training on-site and be able to provide evidence of training if requested by the City.

• (c) Any firearm dealer and firing range employer is strongly encouraged to attend the annual Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Summit or a one-hour training provided by the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN), Los Angeles County Department (LADMH) and the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center or similar summits, conferences, or trainings to gain access to resources for communitybased suicide prevention strategies and best practices which they can implement in their businesses.

• (Ord. 21-910, § 2)

• (a) Firearm dealers and owners firing ranges shall provide firearm rental agreements to all gun renters that includes suicide prevention information.

• (b) The firearm rental agreement required by this section shall include questions regarding the user's mental health. The questions required by this section shall read substantially as follows:

  • (1) Have you had any thoughts about killing yourself or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up? If the answer to question 1 is "yes" please answer questions 2, 3, and 4.

  • (2) Have you thought about how you might do this?

  • (3) Have you had any intention of acting on these thoughts of killing yourself, as opposed to you having the thoughts but you definitely would not act on them?

  • (4) In the past three months, have you done anything, started to do anything, or prepared to do anything to end your life?

• (c) The suicide prevention information required by this section shall also include the following:

  • (1) IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE, PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT 1-800-273-TALK (8255);

  • (2) Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Access Line: Call 1.800.854.7771;

  • (3) Los Angeles County Community Resources Information Line: 2-1-1.

• (d) Firearm dealers and firing range owners shall provide the suicide prevention information outlined above in subsections (b) and (c) in English and Spanish.

• (Ord. 21-910, § 2)

• (a) It is unlawful and declared a public nuisance for any person to violate any provision of this chapter.

• (b) Any violation of the requirements of this chapter is subject to denial, nonrenewal, suspension, or revocation of the business license for the dealer or firing range.

• (c) Any person who violates any provision of this chapter may be issued an administrative penalty in accordance with Chapter 7 of Title 1 of this Code. Violations of this chapter are not subject to criminal penalties under Chapter 2 of Title 1 of this Code.

• (Ord. 21-910, § 2)