Lobbyists To Push Concealed Weapons Measure In KS
Supporters Draw Strength From Missouri Concealed-Gun Passage
UPDATED: 7:24 a.m. CDT October 1, 2003
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Supporters of concealed weapons have set their sights on Kansas and plan to ask lawmakers to consider a gun bill next year, said Phil Journey, president of the Kansas State Rifle Association.
Supporters have drawn strength from the Missouri General Assembly's recent passage of a concealed-gun law over the veto of Gov. Bob Holden, Journey said.
"I think it will help me tremendously with our grassroots efforts," said Journey, of Wichita.
In 1997 lawmakers in Topeka passed a concealed-gun bill. Then-Gov. Bill Graves killed the measure with a veto. Nothing much happened afterward.
Last year, as gun restrictions eased in state after state and some people worried about personal vulnerability after terrorist attacks, the issue emerged from slumber. Next year, the Kansas Legislature could see its own debate.
"There's more legislative support for conceal-carry, and more constituent support; the president favors it, and now with Missouri, that puts a lot of pressure on," said Kansas Sen. Tim Huelskamp of Fowler, a leading supporter of the issue.
As governor of Texas, President George W. Bush had signed a concealed gun proposal into law.
In Kansas much depends on the veto pen of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
For now, Sebelius will not reveal if she would veto a concealed-gun bill.
"I supported the bill that would have allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry a weapon, but nothing beyond that," Sebelius said. "But I don't know what will be introduced or what they will do with it."
In the past there has been considerable opposition to concealed guns in Kansas. Polls taken in the 1990s showed that a majority of state residents then did not favor carrying concealed weapons.
When the measure passed the Legislature in 1997, the House approved it overwhelmingly but the Senate only narrowly. Since then the conservative wing of the Republican Party has increased its influence in the Legislature. Advocates of a gun bill think it would carry in both the House and Senate next year.
Some members of the state Legislature, however, oppose the idea of a concealed-carry measure. Sen. David Haley believes any such measure would make the state more dangerous.
"I think that, prudently, the Kansas Legislature will reject arming our citizens more so than they are now," he said.
Supporters Draw Strength From Missouri Concealed-Gun Passage
UPDATED: 7:24 a.m. CDT October 1, 2003
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Supporters of concealed weapons have set their sights on Kansas and plan to ask lawmakers to consider a gun bill next year, said Phil Journey, president of the Kansas State Rifle Association.
Supporters have drawn strength from the Missouri General Assembly's recent passage of a concealed-gun law over the veto of Gov. Bob Holden, Journey said.
"I think it will help me tremendously with our grassroots efforts," said Journey, of Wichita.
In 1997 lawmakers in Topeka passed a concealed-gun bill. Then-Gov. Bill Graves killed the measure with a veto. Nothing much happened afterward.
Last year, as gun restrictions eased in state after state and some people worried about personal vulnerability after terrorist attacks, the issue emerged from slumber. Next year, the Kansas Legislature could see its own debate.
"There's more legislative support for conceal-carry, and more constituent support; the president favors it, and now with Missouri, that puts a lot of pressure on," said Kansas Sen. Tim Huelskamp of Fowler, a leading supporter of the issue.
As governor of Texas, President George W. Bush had signed a concealed gun proposal into law.
In Kansas much depends on the veto pen of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
For now, Sebelius will not reveal if she would veto a concealed-gun bill.
"I supported the bill that would have allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry a weapon, but nothing beyond that," Sebelius said. "But I don't know what will be introduced or what they will do with it."
In the past there has been considerable opposition to concealed guns in Kansas. Polls taken in the 1990s showed that a majority of state residents then did not favor carrying concealed weapons.
When the measure passed the Legislature in 1997, the House approved it overwhelmingly but the Senate only narrowly. Since then the conservative wing of the Republican Party has increased its influence in the Legislature. Advocates of a gun bill think it would carry in both the House and Senate next year.
Some members of the state Legislature, however, oppose the idea of a concealed-carry measure. Sen. David Haley believes any such measure would make the state more dangerous.
"I think that, prudently, the Kansas Legislature will reject arming our citizens more so than they are now," he said.
