Last year in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Hailey Barrick was briefly treated at Avera Behavioral Health. Shortly following her release, which occurred less than a day later, she purchased a firearm and fatally shot herself. This tragic event has since propelled her mother, Larissa Strong, into action. Strong is now spearheading a legislative initiative, set to be introduced during South Dakota’s 100th Legislative Session in Pierre. The bill, known as “Hailey’s Legacy,” aims to address gaps in firearm acquisition processes, particularly concerning individuals with recent mental health treatments.
According to Strong, the current system in South Dakota for purchasing firearms only requires buyers to declare their mental health status on an affidavit—a process that demands no verification and makes it considerably easy to obtain a firearm. “Hailey’s Legacy” proposes changes that would include verifiable checks, like whether someone has been admitted to a mental health facility, voluntarily or involuntarily, or if they are prescribed antipsychotics. These criteria, while affecting a relatively small group, could potentially save many lives, Strong explained.
Collaborating on this proposed legislation are bipartisan representatives including Kadyn Wittman, Erik Muckey, and Kevin Jensen. Their involvement underscores the bipartisan support for addressing mental health issues related to gun ownership.
The bill carefully balances mental health considerations with constitutional rights, crafted not to impinge on the Second Amendment. It also steers clear of being a red flag law, which allows courts to issue temporary extreme risk protection orders to remove firearms from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.
With the legislative session starting Tuesday, all eyes are on how “Hailey’s Legacy” will be received. The need is clear: providing a safer framework for firearm acquisition could prevent future tragedies. This potential legislation might serve not only as a tribute to Hailey but as a precedent for similar laws in other states, reflecting on how thorough background checks could be a critical step in suicide prevention.
By adding these checks, lawmakers hope to create a buffer that could help individuals suffering from severe mental health issues from accessing firearms during vulnerable times. The importance of this legislation lies in its potential to save lives by integrating mental health awareness into gun safety regulations.
This article has been automatically generated by Open AI. The people, facts, circumstances, and story described may be inaccurate. For corrections, retraction, or removal requests, please email contact@publiclawlibrary.org.