Governor
Kathleen Sebelius today vetoed the state's concealed carry bill,
an action that was widely expected. In her remarks, she pointed
to the same doomsday scenarios that opponents nationwide have
tried to use to block concealed carry laws.
Supporters of the law did not expect to try to override the veto.
"That is something I don't think we can pull together,"
said Rep. L. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth, a sponsor of the bill.
"We have an election in November and hopefully will elect
candidates who support this issue."
Another propoent of the bill, Sen. Phil Journey, said backers
of the bill had expected Sebelius' veto, but wanted to get legislators
on record before this year's elections.
"I think her veto turns this next election into a referendum
on this issue," he said.
The bill would have required the attorney general's office to
issue a concealed-carry permit to any Kansan over 21 who passed
a background check, satisfied the training requirements, and paid
a $150 fee.
The bill would have prohibited concealed handguns in several locations
but would allow them in the Statehouse, school parking lots and
restaurants that serve alcohol.
In her veto remarks, Sebelius cited the usual anti-gun concerns
about law enforcement officers being put in danger.
"Police officers, highway patrolmen,
sheriffs, and deputies in Kansas would be forced to assume that
any person they stop could have a firearm. This would make their
already dangerous job even more difficult," Sebilius said.
Of course, police officers are already trained to approach every
encounter with a citizen with the assumption that the person may
be armed.
Thirty-six states have laws that require
officials to issue concealed carry permits to qualified applicants
and another eight have laws that give officials some discretion
over whether someone gets a permit. Two states--Vermont and Alaska--require
no permits for concealed carry.
Today's veto leaves Kansas, Illinois,
Nebraska and Wisconsin as the only states that completely prohibit
concealed carry.
The Kansas legislature passsed a concealed carry bill in 1997,
but then-Governor Bill Graves, a Republican, vetoed it. In his
veto message, Graves said such the bill would result in more injuries
and deaths from accidental shootings.
Representative Ruff said that Sebelius, just like Graves, was
"following the same misguided information." Ruff and
other supporters of the bill said its passage would permit Kansans,
particularly women, to protect themselves.
In her veto message, Sebelius said she
supports Kansans' right to own firearms but does not believe a
broad concealed carry law would make Kansans safer. "I do
not believe allowing people to carry concealed handguns into sporting
events, shopping malls, grocery stores, or the workplace would
be good public policy." And, to me, the likelihood of exposing
children to loaded handguns in their parents' purses, pockets
and automobiles is simply unacceptable."
Representative Ruff said the experiences
of other states show that Sebelius' fears were unfounded.
"Her arguments were thinly presented," Ruff said. "The
mothers in those others states who are permit holders have not
put their children in danger. You simply don't have those dangers."
The legislature could attempt to override
the veto, but supporters do not believe they could pick up the
additional six votes needed to do so.
Criminals all over the state of Kansas
are rejoicing today.
|
