Lewis files ‘Donna’s Law’ to create voluntary no-sale gun registry

Measure filed as part of gun safety legislation package

State Rep. Patty Lewis (Tim Bommel/House Communications)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State Rep. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City, filed a package of gun safety legislation earlier this week as a part of her efforts this year to improve public health in the state of Missouri.

While Lewis has filed most of these bills in pervious sessions, she has added a new bill this year called “Donna’s Law,” which would create a voluntary self-registry list for people who do not wish to be sold firearms. Lewis said she filed this bill in an effort to prevent people aware of their own mental health struggles from impulsively buying a weapon they could use to hurt themselves or others.

“Missouri has the 10th-highest rate of gun suicides and suicide attempts in the country,” Lewis said. “When you look at the statistics, easy access to guns for people who may have suicidal ideation in a moment of crisis is a recipe for disaster. By giving people the option to be put on such a list, we can save lives while also not using the force of government to infringe on anyone’s Second Amendment rights.”

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 55 percent of gun deaths in Missouri occur as a result of suicide. Firearms are also an effective tool to complete a suicide. A 2019 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that almost 90 percent of all suicide attempts with guns ended in death.

Lewis has also filed House Bill 1876, the Gun Violence Prevention Act, which would institute extreme risk protection orders; HB 1877 to require the safe storage of firearms in the presence of children; and HB 1878 to require that all sales and transfers of firearms be processed through a licensed dealer.

Donna’s Law is HB 1872.