TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today issued the following response after the Kansas Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs advanced House Bill 2145 and House Bill 2042 to the Senate floor.
House Bill 2145, passed by the Kansas House of Representatives in February with a 120-0 vote, would address gaps in Kansas law that give domestic abusers easy access to guns. Most states have laws that prohibit people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes, and abusers subject to active protection orders, from having guns. Kansas currently has neither. House Bill 2145 would prohibit gun possession by convicted domestic abusers and by domestic abusers who are subject to active protection orders.
HB 2042 is a dangerous bill that would require Kansas to recognize concealed carry permits from other states. The committee removed a provision that would have helped protect college campuses by allowing them to prohibit individuals without concealed handgun permits from carrying hidden, loaded handguns in their buildings.
STATEMENT FROM JO ELLA HOYE, VOLUNTEER WITH THE KANSAS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“As more and more Kansans speak out about the need to address gun violence with sensible public safety laws, our state senators have a chance to pass a common-sense, bipartisan proposal that will protect families across the state. Our senators should send HB 2145 to the governor’s desk this week.
Even as support for gun safety laws is growing in Kansas, some of our lawmakers are pushing a dangerous bill that would force law enforcement to recognize concealed carry permits from states that issue permits to 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds. Make no mistake, lowering our standards would take us backward, not forward, and it would leave all of us less safe. Our senators should stand up for our safety by rejecting HB 2042.”