Kansas Republicans are always looking for new ways to influence the nation with cutting edge conservative legislation. This summer, Wichita Republicans joined to look at the outlook on the future of Kansas, and legislation that might be needed to make it better.
The discussion, however, was apparently not well enough received by all those who attended to keep it quiet, as reporters like Bryan Lowry of the Wichita Eagle managed to get hold of a report as well as notes regarding the future plans for Republicans in Kansas.
While the news of expenditures for "Fluoride fighting" was certainly a laugh, legislation which was also discussed at that meeting was forwarded to several reporters that same evening with a for sillier plan: give students scholarships from the state if they carry a gun on their state college campus.
Noting that the bill is "subject to change" and inviting members input, Kansas Republicans pointed out a unique way to solve issues of student violence: guns, lots and lots of guns.
Session of 2016
HOUSE BILL No. __
By The ____________ Committee
AN ACT concerning higher education opportunities for Kansas military veterans, and protection from potential gun violence on Kansas College and University campuses
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. (a) The Kansas legislature declares the following:
(1) Encouraging higher education for returning military veterans is a noble effort because it is good for the individual veteran, good for the veteran’s family and community, and good for the state of Kansas.
(2) Gun violence on College and University campuses, as commonly seen around the nation, could be minimized or virtually avoided in Kansas by enactment of this legislation, which would take advantage of the military training of our veterans, while they are fully engaged in expanding their own education in Kansas Colleges and Universities.
Section 2. (a) All Kansas Colleges and Universities are hereby required to offer each Kansas military veteran the opportunity to receive a financial benefit toward tuition and other educational costs, if in exchange, that veteran agrees to carry a firearm of the veterans choosing, with him or her on a daily basis, while attending class and other university functions, including after-hours college and universities functions on campus.
(b) In exchange for the financial benefit given to the veteran-student, the veteran-student must agree to remain proficient in the use of his or her firearm, and to remain adequately prepared with an operable firearm and ammunition sufficient to present a reasonable and effective armed response to any unlawful armed threat to the safety of the students and faculty of that college or university.
(c) The financial compensation details shall be such that the veteran-student is able to complete his or her degree, within the dollar amounts provided by his or her VA Educational Benefits, and without the need for any additional educational loans and / or any other out-of-pocket educational costs.
Section 3. (a) With regard to liability issues, it shall be unlawful for any individual or entity to hold either the educational institution, or its officers, or its employees, or the veteran-students liable for any misfortune that occurs as a result of actions taken by the veteran-student in defense of others.
Section 4. (a) In the interests of safety, the functional aspects of this act shall take effect immediately, with the financial and contractual aspects of this act taking effect within 90 days of passage
The bill, which is unlikely to get anywhere in the statehouse, reflects a "first draft" contends the email, but it also notes: "this seems like the right direction". Included witht he legislation is an ask for commentary on how to improve the bill before the spring session of 2016.
The bill, which as worded seems to provide for a form of mob justice paid for in scholarships and fear, offers no real prospectus of how many crimes they expect such a measure to stop.
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