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Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Condemn Kansas Senate Committee for Passing Bill to Let Teenagers, People from Other States Carry Hidden, Loaded Guns in Public

March 30, 2021

The Kansas chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, the grassroots networks of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement after the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee voted to advance HB 2058, a bill which would automatically let people with carry permits from other states—including untrained people and even some with dangerous histories—carry concealed handguns in public in Kansas. HB 2058 would also allow 18-, 19-, 20- year olds  to obtain permits to carry concealed handguns in public, including carrying inside school grounds and on college campuses. This same committee also passed HB 2089, a bill that would create a firearms program in elementary, middle and high schools that would allow more guns in schools. 

“Kansas lawmakers keep putting Kansans and our safety last, ” said Angela Lee, volunteer with the Kansas chapter of Moms Demand Action and gun violence survivor. “Rather than prioritizing legislation to protect Kansans, the committee voted to endanger our communities. HB 2058 would let teenagers and people from other states — even those who would be ineligible for a permit in Kansas — to carry hidden, loaded guns in public in our state. The committee showed their true priorities by voting for a bill not only meant for people from out of state, but that puts people in our state at risk.”

What to know about HB 2058, which would automatically let people with permits from other states carry concealed handguns in Kansas:

  • HB 2058 would let people with permits from other states carry concealed handguns into Kansas.
    • This bill contains a dangerous gun lobby-backed proposal to automatically allow people with permits from other states to carry hidden, loaded handguns in Kansas communities—even if they would be ineligible for Kansas permits.
    • 15 states issue concealed carry permits to teenagers, who are not eligible to carry concealed handguns in public under current Kansas law. Of those states, 10 allow certain convicted stalkers to obtain permits; 9 fail to require live-fire handgun safety training; and 6 issue permits to many violent misdemeanor offenders.
    • It would automatically allow people with permits from other states—including teenagers, certain convicted stalkers, and people who have never fired a handgun—to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public throughout Kansas.
  • HB 2058 would allow Kansas teenagers to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public.
    • Under current Kansas law, 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds cannot legally carry hidden, loaded handguns in public.1 But HB 2058 would allow teenagers to obtain permits to carry concealed handguns throughout the state.
    • 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds commit gun homicides at a rate nearly four times higher than adults 21 and older.
    • This bill would allow teenagers to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public, undermining the common sense laws that keep Kansas communities safe when people carry concealed firearms in public.

Statistics about gun violence in Kansas are available here, and Everytown’s Gun Law Navigator – which shows how Kansas gun laws compare to those of other states – is available here.

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