Kansas Senators took to the floor today to propose SB-45, a senate bill designed to end the permit requirements for concealed carry.
The legislation, linked here, contends that like neighboring Oklahoma, the ability to carry a concealed weapon should not require finger printing, registration or any other step toward your gun ownership.
http://johncelock.com/...
The bill, introduced Wednesday, would allow for Kansas residents to lawfully conceal carry guns if they are “law abiding.” Passage would make Kansas the sixth state in the country to adopt such a constitutional amendment. Twenty-six senators have signed on as sponsors of the bill.
“In last few legislative sessions, member of the Kansas Legislature have come together in a bi-partisan manner to craft legislation that protects Kansans’ 2nd Amendment rights,” state Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce (R-Nickerson), the bill’s chief sponsor, said in a statement. “SB 45 helps ensure that law abiding Kansans are afforded every possibility to defend themselves and their loved ones from those who disregard our system of laws. I look forward to working with my colleagues as this historic piece of legislation works its way through the public process.”
Bruce was joined by 24 fellow Republicans in pushing the bill. State Sen. Laura Kelly (D-Topeka) is the sole Democrat to join the legislation.
The legislation heads to the state house floor at the same time as another measure makes it's way to the floor.
http://cjonline.com/...
A bill introduced in the Senate would require background checks in Kansas on people purchasing guns over the Internet and at gun shows.
Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita, and Rep. Barbara Bollier, R-Mission Hills, are leading advocates of legislation that would expand background checks in the state beyond sales conducted by licensed gun dealers.
The bill introduced Wednesday by Faust-Goudeau in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee wouldn’t apply to private, unadvertised transactions between friends, relatives or acquaintances.
Bollier said her motivation to bring about statutory reform was to address the public health issue of gun violence.
“The bill is excellent,” Bollier said. “I very much support it.”
The two pieces of legislation are not necessarily in conflict, and the attention by Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau on internet sales might hit a nerve with many who provide sales within the state of Kansas.
While these two measures are strikingly different they both represent changes in gun policy in the state of Kansas, and will be debated significantly by both sides. While the measure to pass 'constitutional carry' is likely to succeed, Oletha Faust-Goudeau's measure, which will may face dismissal by Kansas Republicans, might be better for the Kansas economy.
Oletha Faust-Goudeau's Proposal
In many cases, issues of expanded background checks and guidelines provided to firearms are seen as an immediate attack on the right of an individual to carry. Faust-Goudeau is in effect focusing on the impact of FFL cost to local dealers - and the way in which background checks are organized.
When a weapon is shipped state to state, through the internet by law it is supposed to transfer through an FFL holder - normally a local gun shop. The local gunshop in most cases charges a fee to receive and transfer a weapon or a fee to ship a weapon across to a seller/buyer from the internet.
Faust Legislation, placing a background check on such requirements may be seen by many as a deterrent on the purchase of a weapon at all, but in fact, it may also act to even the playing field for local gun store owners, who have found themselves at somewhat of a disadvantage in comparison to FFL sales - which are not only not as profitable but do not establish an ongoing relationship with the customer.
Still, Faust-Goudeau's legislation is a more than a long shot, despite the support of Republican and doctor Barbara Bolier, who has advocated for this position.
“The bill is excellent,” Bollier said. “I very much support it.”
The Republican-led House and Senate have typically resisted expanding background checks on gun sales.
The Senate bill was introduced at the urging of the Northeast Kansas Chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
The Bi-Partisan Constitutional Carry Legislation
Far more likely to pass, Kansas Senate proposes SB-45, also called "Constitutional Carry" promotes the idea of concealed carry without a permit.
Supported by Democrat Laura Kelly along with 26 Republicans seemingly stands as a lock to pass.
http://www.kansas.com/...
"It is our belief that it will lead to more protection of individuals," (Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce, R-Hutchinson) said, adding that he doesn't expect it to increase gun violence.
"Most Incidents, I believe, they resolve themselves with the gun beign brandished," he said. "I don't think that it's necessarily going to elevate shootings."
One of the chief arguments for Constitutional Carry, as they refer to it, is that it helps growth of local gun shops, dealers as well as any in-state manufacturers.
While "don't think" and "necessarily" are not ideal statistical terms, Rep. Terry Bruce is convinced he has the votes for his legislation to pass, and believes that the simple brandishing of a weapon will cause violent situations to fall apart.
For the most part, though, there will be no real debate over SB-45, legislation that is guaranteed to pass.
http://www.therepublic.com/...
Twenty-six of the Kansas Senate’s 40 members introduced a bill Wednesday to end the permitting requirement. The lead sponsor is Majority Leader and Nickerson Republican Terry Bruce.
That's right. With the majority of the senate listed as sponsors, there will be little debate.
Unknowable at this point is the economic impact of this policy. The state currently collects $100 on every concealed carry permit application, and each county Sheriff receives $32. These fees will of course be eliminated if no permit is required.
https://ag.ks.gov/...
Two pieces of gun legislation in Kansas. And two wildly different outcomes.