Rejection of Reckless Bill Caps a Legislative Session in Which Kansas Lawmakers Enacted A Domestic Violence Prevention Gun Law With Overwhelming Support
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas chapter of Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after adjournment of the Kansas Senate marked the defeat of House Bill 2042, which would have lowered the bar for who can carry a concealed handgun in public in Kansas – including by lowering the minimum age from 21 to 18.
In addition to protecting public safety by rejecting HB 2042, lawmakers enacted bipartisan legislation this session to close gaps in state law that previously gave domestic abusers easy access to guns. Across the country, a growing number of states – including several with Republican governors – are enacting gun safety laws in the wake of the Parkland, Fla. tragedy.
STATEMENT FROM JO ELLA HOYE, VOLUNTEER WITH THE KANSAS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA
“Our elected officials recognize that Kansans want common-sense gun laws. Lawmakers are listening to our law enforcement leaders, to Kansans affected by gun violence and to moms like me who expect them to prioritize public safety.
Lawmakers worked together this session to make it harder for domestic abusers to access guns, and they stood up for sensible gun laws currently on the books. Kansas will be safer because of it.”
MORE ON HOUSE BILL 2042:
House Bill 2042 would have done nothing to address concerns raised by students and faculty members about guns on Kansas college and university campuses. To the contrary, it would have made the situation worse: While under current law people must be 21 years old to carry a hidden, loaded handgun in public in Kansas, the bill would have allowed 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds in Kansas to do so – including in college and university buildings.
The bill would also allowed people with handgun permits from other states – even those with weaker standards than Kansas – to carry hidden, loaded handguns in Kansas communities.
During the legislative session, survivors of domestic violence and other volunteers with Moms Demand Action urged lawmakers to pass HB 2145 and to reject HB 2042. Moms Demand Action volunteers had a continued presence at the Statehouse throughout the 2018 legislative session, more than 250 people have attended rallies at the Capitol and volunteers have driven thousands of calls and emails to lawmakers.
As the close of the legislative session approached with HB 2042 still pending, volunteers were in the Capitol each day this week, including spending 17 hours at the Statehouse from Thursday morning into early Friday, as part of their efforts to convey their concerns to lawmakers.