Panel hears emotional testimony for HB 2379 to create voluntary 'do not sell' firearm list; proponents cite suicide prevention

A legislative committee heard testimony on House Bill 2379, a proposal to direct the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to establish a voluntary, confidential "do not sell" firearms list that would block purchases from federally licensed firearms dealers for anyone 18 or older who registers for the service.

Mike, Revisor’s Office staff, summarized the bill for the committee: “This bill deals with firearms, and it provides that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation shall establish a Kansas voluntary do not sell firearm list to prevent the purchase of firearms by any person who voluntarily registers to be placed on the list.” He said KBI would withhold list enrollment and removal requests from public disclosure except for law enforcement duties, and the bill allows removal at the registrant’s request.

Representative Monica Owsley, the bill’s sponsor, framed the measure as a suicide‑prevention tool developed over several years and described it as intentionally simple to use. "Simple…