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Committee hears 'Donna's Law' proposal to let people voluntarily block firearm purchases during mental-health crises
Summary
House Bill 737 would let people register a short ‘do-not-sell’ entry to block purchasing firearms during a mental-health crisis and coordinate with a related safe-storage bill. Supporters, including a law professor, said a voluntary cooling-off registry could prevent impulsive suicides; opponents raised implementation and privacy concerns.
Representative Ed Staffman, sponsor of House Bill 737, described the bill as a voluntary suicide-prevention measure commonly known as Donna’s Law. "This bill would reduce this tragic death toll by allowing people who fear suicide to voluntarily and confidentially suspend their own ability to purchase firearms," testified Frederick Vars (law professor), appearing online in favor.
Staffman explained how the registry would work with a companion safe-storage proposal: clinicians could inform patients about options, including temporary transfer to a gun dealer…
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