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 on, simple off. No questions asked, no permission slip, no doctor's orders," Owsley told the committee, describing the policy’s voluntary nature and citing other states that have adopted similar programs.

Survivors, clinicians and advocacy groups provided personal testimony and cited research on lethal‑means reduction. Retired radiologist Steven Coates told the committee that his son bought a gun after discharge from inpatient psychiatric care and died by suicide; Coates said he believes his son “would be alive today if this bill had been passed.” Amy Campbell of the Kansas Mental Health Coalition urged the committee to consider means‑restriction evidence and called the bill an "evidence‑based strategy" that complements other services. Campbell summarized one study as finding that making lethal means less accessible reduces suicide deaths by 91 percent.

People with lived experience and first responders said the tool could be life‑saving. Whit Downing, who said they survived a suicide attempt and lives with autism, depression and PTSD, testified: “If I could put myself on a no sell list, it wouldn't take anything from me. It's voluntary. It would make me safe, and safety in moments of my mental health crisis could mean life or death.” Firefighter‑paramedic Aaron Nathan and family members of people who died by suicide described purchases made minutes before fatal attempts.

Legal and policy experts told the committee that several states have enacted similar programs. Law professor Fred Vars cited Utah, Delaware, Virginia and Washington and said more than 100 people had signed up in other states, with a smaller number subsequently removing themselves from lists.

Committee members asked how the program would be enforced and whether existing firearms in a registrant’s home would be affected. Revisor staff and proponents repeatedly emphasized that the bill governs the purchase process at federally licensed dealers rather than possession; one committee member asked whether a person who is on the list and later decides to get off could do so repeatedly; proponents said the bill is silent on limits to re‑enrollment and removal and that those technical points could be addressed in further drafting.

Other questions centered on whether the bill would require relinquishment, how rural residents would access enrollment, whether the option would prompt people to seek treatment, and whether local gun stores could voluntarily provide similar protections. Proponents said the bill centralizes a process that otherwise would require in‑person arrangements at multiple local shops, and that it can complement — but does not replace — clinical services and local storage options.

The draft includes confidentiality provisions and a civil penalty (up to $500 or 5 hours of community service) for false statements about list membership. No committee vote was held; the committee closed the hearing and signaled the bill could be negotiated further in the legislative process.