Democratic lawmakers in Georgia filed legislation to allow residents to place themselves on the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System Firearms Checks List to protect themselves.
Last week, state Sens. Sally Harrell, D-Atlanta, and Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, filed Senate Bill 224, “Donna’s Law.” It would allow anyone to place themselves on the list through a healthcare professional or under oath through a probate court in their county of residence.
Once someone applies, they will be placed on the NICS firearms checklist within 24 hours. The legislation also allows applicants to remove themselves from the list no sooner than seven days after they apply.
“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,” Parent, who was an outspoken advocate for gun control measures following the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School, said in a release.
“With firearms, there are very few second chances — about 85% of gun suicide attempts result in death,” Parent added. “We have the opportunity to offer an important tool to reduce the probability of death or self-harm to those who are suffering from mental health challenges and the professionals who treat them.”
If passed, Georgia would become the fourth state to adopt such a measure.
The law is named for Donna Nathan, who suffered from bipolar disorder for 30 years and voluntarily admitted herself to psychiatric treatment facilities to protect herself. In 2018, she searched “gun stores,” drove to one, bought a gun and killed herself.
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