Colorado Needs Funding for Life-Saving "Donna's Law" – Academic Research Shows Why

University of Alabama law professor Fredrick Vars has built a substantial body of academic research supporting voluntary gun purchase restrictions – exactly what Colorado is trying to fund and implement through "Donna's Law" in SB25-034.

A Decade of Research on Voluntary Restrictions

Vars has been studying voluntary do-not-sell programs since at least 2015, publishing multiple academic papers examining their constitutional basis and suicide prevention potential. His work spans from constitutional analysis to practical implementation studies, establishing him as a leading expert on these innovative policies.

Most notably, Vars co-authored "Weapon of Choice: Fighting Gun Violence While Respecting Gun Rights" with Yale economist Ian Ayres. The book proposes 10 state-level policies that can reduce gun deaths without affecting gun owners' rights, using libertarian approaches that respect individual choice.

The Tragic Case Study

Vars' recent research highlights the story of Kathryn Laumer, a survivor of the 2022 St. Stephen's Episcopal Church shooting near Birmingham. After witnessing two friends murdered, Laumer developed severe PTSD and relapsed into drinking after 15 years of sobriety. While intoxicated, she bought guns for suicide attempts on three separate occasions – attempts prevented only by last-minute interventions or mechanical failure.

Laumer explicitly told Vars she would have signed up for voluntary purchase restrictions if they had been available, noting it would have prevented tremendous suffering for both herself and her family.

The Research Evidence

Vars' extensive work reveals why Colorado needs to fund Donna's Law implementation:

• 63% of mass shooting survivors develop PTSD

• Only 10% of suicide attempt survivors keep trying until they succeed

• Delaying gun access by just a few days reduces gun suicide without increasing other methods

• 46% of psychiatric patients near Laumer's church said they'd use voluntary restrictions

• Majority of gun owners surveyed support the concept

Only four other states have successfully implemented Donna's Law: Delaware, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Vars has examined these implementations, looking at what works and what doesn't in real-world application. He highlights the ease of access that will be provided by Colorado's electronic registration option, if it can raise sufficient funds – making funding critical to implementation success.

Colorado's SB25-034: What Funding Would Enable

The 2025 Colorado bill would create a voluntary "do not sell" registry through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, but it needs adequate funding to work effectively. Key features the funding would support:

• Electronic registration system for easy enrollment and unenrollment

• Database integration with background check systems

• Staff training and administration for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
  

SB25-034's provisions are direct in ensuring that People can protect themselves and others with this voluntary waiver system.

Constitutional and Political Framework

Vars' recent work with Ian Ayres examines constitutional challenges to gun prohibitions, providing legal grounding for voluntary restriction programs. Their research demonstrates that government can reduce suicides and gun violence without triggering opposition from Second Amendment advocates.

This constitutional foundation is crucial for Colorado's funding appeal – the research shows these programs can withstand legal challenges precisely because they're voluntary and respect individual rights.

The Implementation Challenge

With Colorado's legislation now passed, the focus shifts from political opposition to practical implementation. Vars' research shows that successful programs require robust infrastructure and public awareness. His documentation of cases like Laumer's – where the same dealer kept selling guns even after they had been returned for safety – demonstrates why comprehensive system design is essential.

Why Colorado's Funding Is Critical

With the legislation passed, Colorado now faces the implementation challenge that Vars' research anticipated. Suicide is often impulsive, and creating brief delays in gun access saves lives. But voluntary systems only work if they're properly funded and accessible. Without adequate resources, Colorado's hard-won Donna's Law could fail in practice despite legislative success.

As Vars and Ayres argue, while Congress and courts debate, lives can be saved through state-level action. For trauma survivors like Laumer, proper funding means the difference between having protection during crisis periods and facing the same dangerous cycle.

Colorado has passed life-saving legislation – now we need to fund it properly to make it work. Read the Op-Ed in the LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2025-06-16/mass-shootings-ptsd-suicide-donnas-law