Posted on 01/21/2006 6:36:08 AM PST by heckler
The issue of whether Kansans should be allowed to legally carry concealed guns is back in play with legislators.
Sen. Phil Journey on Friday introduced a bill -- similar to one that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed in 2004 -- allowing residents with proper training and background clearance to carry a hidden handgun.
"It's good public policy. It allows Kansas citizens after a background check and training to have a means to protect themselves, their families and their property," said Journey, R-Haysville. "It's an effective deterrent to violent crime."
Journey said he didn't know when the bill would get a committee hearing.
Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said the governor hasn't changed her position, which is to allow only retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed gun.
In her veto message, Sebelius said she supported Kansans' right to own firearms but didn't believe a concealed carry law would make Kansans safer.
"The governor will have to take a look at what comes to her desk, but in general, when a bill that has been vetoed in the past is resubmitted to her in the same form, it has had the same outcome," Corcoran said.
Legislative leaders said they expect the bill to pass but were uncertain whether there would be enough backing to override a veto. A similar bill passed in 1997, only to be spiked by then-Gov. Bill Graves, who said it would result in more injuries and deaths from accidental shootings.
Although the bill has strong legislative support, it also has opponents, including Wichita lawyer Kelly Johnston, chairman of the Safe State Kansas coalition.
"I have never understood what social ill or problem this kind of legislation is designed to fix," Johnston said. "This is a cure without an illness."
He said the push nationally for such laws began in the early 1990s.
"Some of these bills got passed because of high crime, but those days are gone," Johnston said. "We already have the right to protect ourselves."
Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois are the only four states without some law allowing for the carrying of concealed weapons.
Nebraska legislators are in the process of passing such a bill supported by Gov. Dave Heineman, and Wisconsin lawmakers this week sent a version to Gov. Jim Doyle, who has vowed to veto it.
The Kansas bill is backed by the National Rifle Association, whose lobbyist Keith Wood said, "It's the best chance that it's had in a long time."
Wood said the bill stands a better chance this year because it is an election year in a state where firearms are a part of its history, and there are thousands of hunters. He also said several legislators who voted against the 2004 bill have been replaced by those who support such a measure.
Under the proposal, Kansans who are 21 or older and are U.S. citizens would fill out an application with their local sheriff and pay a fee of up to $150.
The attorney general's office would issue the permits after conducting background checks to eliminate those with a felony record, a history of mental illness or drug or alcohol addiction, or a physical infirmity that would prevent the safe handling of a weapon.
"We can handle it," Attorney General Phill Kline said of the background checks.
Once past that hurdle, the person then must complete an eight-hour safety and training course by a firearms instructor certified by the attorney general or the NRA.
As to what he thinks about the bill, Kline said, "It's appropriate with proper safeguards for people to be able to protect themselves."
The bill spells out locations where a person with a concealed carry permit couldn't take a weapon, including any state office building, city hall, courthouse or law enforcement office or jail. The state permit law would supersede any local ordinance regulating concealed weapons.
Eight hour training? What a ridiculous joke.
The bill number is SB418.
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/418.pdf
ping
Backed up by what statistic? Offset by how many avoided injuries and deaths by carrying concealed?
You would think that if they would just take 2 minutes to look at the statisitics from other states nation wide that have inacted CC, these idiots would stop using such asinine unsupported claims.
I'm not sure what you mean by that. Is it not enough that constitutionally-guaranteed rights are subject to the whims of state legislatures requiring any kind of permit?
Of states that require training, that's pretty typical. In Texas at least, the training focuses not on shooting, but on the law. When it's appropriate to use deadly force, the legal hazards of carrying (for instance a simple trespass could be "enhanced" because you were armed), and so forth. Part, maybe 1 1/2 or so, is devoted to the shooting test, but the requirements to pass that are not very stringent, everyone in my class, including the older couple who had never fired semi-automatics before but who chose to use rental Glocks for the test, passed. (It's not that they hadn't shot, they were just revolver people, but if you test with a semi-auto, you can carry either type).
Feelings, nothing more than feelings. Most likely anyway, since AFAIK, that hasn't happened in any of the other 46 states that allow some form of concealed carry, including the 35 "shall issue" states or Vermont which doesn't require a permit at all. (Alaska also does not require a permit, but still issues one, so that Alaskans can carry in states which recognize it's permit.)
It won't pass anyway. Sebelius will veto it and the legislature will not override.
Crazieman
You may be right but I think that we still need to give it a shot, but it'll take some serious effort on the part of folks from districts of legislators who voted against it. The only way it passes is if we can over-ride a veto. Some RHINO minds will have to be changed.
As far as I know, the average police academy graduate gets not much more than 40-50 hours (that's hours, NOT credit-hours) training in gun handling and what the law says about when you may shoot
The downside of training requirements is that some jurisdictions have used that to make it difficult to get a license, by scheduling classes infrequently and with long waiting lists
Kansas bump from an NRA Life Member.
I wonder the same thing.
Agree---there should be no training requirement.
> You would think that if they would just take
> 2 minutes to look at the statisitics ...
History? Real-world consequences? Actual results?
This gubner is a democrat, which means her
priorities are appearances, emotion and symbolism.
No, it is the right to bear arms, you dolt.
I certainly hope the KS GOP can come up with a viable candidate this time around. Sebeeli-ass needs to go.
"Kansas bump from an NRA Life Member."
And a Michigan member. Just got my pin, certificate and other stuff today!
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