Peach Tree Times

Senators Sally Harrell and Elena Parent have introduced Senate Bill 224, known as "Donna’s Law," in Georgia. This legislation aims to allow individuals at risk of suicide to voluntarily place themselves on the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Firearms Checks List. The initiative is designed to help those experiencing suicidal thoughts by preventing impulsive access to firearms.

The bill outlines a process where individuals can add themselves to the list through a healthcare professional or by taking an oath in their county's probate court. Once submitted, their names would be added to the NICS firearms checklist within 24 hours. The legislation also permits individuals to remove themselves from the list, but not until seven days after their initial application.

Senator Harrell emphasized the importance of this measure, stating, “This is an important way we can support and protect people suffering from mental illness. Sadly, as I was working on this bill, a friend of my family took her life with a firearm.” She further explained that "Donna’s Law could help prevent people who are suffering from making impulsive decisions."

Senator Parent highlighted the urgency of addressing mental health issues in relation to firearm use: “The last few years, we’ve been very focused on finding better solutions to help people with mental health issues. Firearms are used in over half of suicides in Georgia." She noted that about 85% of gun suicide attempts result in death and expressed hope that this law could reduce such incidents.

If enacted, Georgia would join three other states that have adopted similar legislation. The law is named after Donna Nathan, who lived with bipolar disorder for three decades and sought psychiatric treatment voluntarily. In 2018, she purchased a gun and ended her life.

For more details on SB 224 or media inquiries, contact information for Senators Harrell and Parent is available.