The mother of a suicide victim wants to help others with a new law

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – Last February, Hailey Barrick was booked into Avera Behavioral Health Facility and released less than 24 hours later.

Shortly thereafter, she purchased a firearm and took her own life.

Now, with the help of bipartisan leadership, Hailey’s mother, Larissa Strong, is introducing a new law called “Hailey’s Legacy” during the 100th legislative session in Pierre.

“Currently, the only way to address the issue of mental illness is to make an affidavit in which the person simply says, ‘No, I do not have a mental illness.’ They sign the document, exchange money for weapons again and can leave. “In South Dakota, it is one of the easiest states in our country to obtain a firearm,” Strong explained. “The way this will work is that it is based on things that can be verified, whether the person was placed in a mental health facility voluntarily or involuntarily. Or if they take antipsychotics. So it’s actually very, very small in terms of who is “affected” by this phenomenon. But in reality, it could help save many lives.”

Larissa worked with Reps. Kadyn Wittman, Eric Muckey and Kevin Jensen on the legislation.

The Hailey’s Legacy Act will not impede Second Amendment rights and is not a red flag law.

The 100th legislative session begins on Tuesday.