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http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/local/14165328.htm
Posted on Thu, Mar. 23, 2006
Senators override gun veto
Kansans will be allowed to carry concealed firearms if the House overrides the governor's veto today.
BY BRENT D. WISTROM
Eagle Topeka bureau
TOPEKA - A day after Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a concealed firearms bill, the Senate overruled her in a 30-10 vote.
And supporters of the proposed law say it's all but certain the House will sustain the override today, giving Kansans the right to carry concealed firearms.
It also will make Sebelius the first governor to have a veto circumvented since 1994.
"I think the Kansas Senate has spoken loud and clear that this is good public policy --that the citizens of Kansas desire this legislation to become law," said Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, a leading gun rights supporter. "I regret the governor's position, but I believe the people have spoken."
The vote came without debate and mirrored the Senate's vote a week ago.
It will take 84 votes to override the veto in the House. The bill received 90 votes last Tuesday. Supporters were counting votes late Wednesday.
"I'm worried about six and praying for 84," said Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth, who is a leading supporter of the bill in the House.
Supporters have been trying to get a concealed-carry bill passed in Kansas for 14 years. Kansas is one of four states that does not allow people to carry concealed firearms. Two of those states -- Wisconsin and Nebraska -- also are close to passing concealed-carry bills this year.
Sen. Donald Betts, a Democrat who represents north-central Wichita and has voted against the bill, said he believes letting people carry hidden guns could make the streets more dangerous.
"Guns have been an increasing problem in my district and across this country in general," he said.
"I believe we just opened Pandora's box," he said. "And it's full of bullets."
The veto override wasn't a surprise because there was such a strong lobbying effort, Betts said.
The pressure was intense, said Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, who was viewed as one who might have been willing to change his vote to support the governor.
Sebelius gave him a wake-up call at 7:10 a.m. to gently ask for his support, said Haley, who said he was still a "coin flip" on the issue just hours before the vote.
"This is probably one of the most intense periods of my 12-year career," he said.
"My constituents want legal concealed carry and they deserve it," he said. "But the governor has done a tremendous amount of homework on the issue."
As he turned to enter the Senate chamber to vote, a National Rifle Association lobbyist said, "Senator Haley!" Haley spotted him, and they shook hands and started talking.
Haley voted to override the veto.
What the bill does
The bill allows Kansans who are 21 or older and pass background checks to obtain concealed-firearm permits.
Permit applicants with a felony record, a history of mental illness or drug or alcohol addiction would be denied. Permit applicants would also have to complete an eight-hour safety course.
Concealed firearms would be barred from state office buildings, city halls, courthouses and law enforcement facilities.
Businesses could post signs to keep concealed guns out, a common practice in states such as Texas.
The Senate's override follows more than 14 years of attempts to allowed licensed Kansans to carry concealed firearms.
A similar bill passed the House in 1995 but got no further. In 1997, it passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by Republican Gov. Bill Graves. No override was attempted.
It passed again in 2004 but was rejected by Sebelius. The House could not override her veto.
In Sebelius' veto message this year, she said that she signed a bill allowing retired law enforcement officers who have special training to carry concealed weapons.
"As violent crime rates in Kansas continue to drop below surrounding states with concealed carry laws," she wrote, "I continue to hear from the police
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/local/14165328.htm
Posted on Thu, Mar. 23, 2006
Senators override gun veto
Kansans will be allowed to carry concealed firearms if the House overrides the governor's veto today.
BY BRENT D. WISTROM
Eagle Topeka bureau
TOPEKA - A day after Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a concealed firearms bill, the Senate overruled her in a 30-10 vote.
And supporters of the proposed law say it's all but certain the House will sustain the override today, giving Kansans the right to carry concealed firearms.
It also will make Sebelius the first governor to have a veto circumvented since 1994.
"I think the Kansas Senate has spoken loud and clear that this is good public policy --that the citizens of Kansas desire this legislation to become law," said Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, a leading gun rights supporter. "I regret the governor's position, but I believe the people have spoken."
The vote came without debate and mirrored the Senate's vote a week ago.
It will take 84 votes to override the veto in the House. The bill received 90 votes last Tuesday. Supporters were counting votes late Wednesday.
"I'm worried about six and praying for 84," said Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth, who is a leading supporter of the bill in the House.
Supporters have been trying to get a concealed-carry bill passed in Kansas for 14 years. Kansas is one of four states that does not allow people to carry concealed firearms. Two of those states -- Wisconsin and Nebraska -- also are close to passing concealed-carry bills this year.
Sen. Donald Betts, a Democrat who represents north-central Wichita and has voted against the bill, said he believes letting people carry hidden guns could make the streets more dangerous.
"Guns have been an increasing problem in my district and across this country in general," he said.
"I believe we just opened Pandora's box," he said. "And it's full of bullets."
The veto override wasn't a surprise because there was such a strong lobbying effort, Betts said.
The pressure was intense, said Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, who was viewed as one who might have been willing to change his vote to support the governor.
Sebelius gave him a wake-up call at 7:10 a.m. to gently ask for his support, said Haley, who said he was still a "coin flip" on the issue just hours before the vote.
"This is probably one of the most intense periods of my 12-year career," he said.
"My constituents want legal concealed carry and they deserve it," he said. "But the governor has done a tremendous amount of homework on the issue."
As he turned to enter the Senate chamber to vote, a National Rifle Association lobbyist said, "Senator Haley!" Haley spotted him, and they shook hands and started talking.
Haley voted to override the veto.
What the bill does
The bill allows Kansans who are 21 or older and pass background checks to obtain concealed-firearm permits.
Permit applicants with a felony record, a history of mental illness or drug or alcohol addiction would be denied. Permit applicants would also have to complete an eight-hour safety course.
Concealed firearms would be barred from state office buildings, city halls, courthouses and law enforcement facilities.
Businesses could post signs to keep concealed guns out, a common practice in states such as Texas.
The Senate's override follows more than 14 years of attempts to allowed licensed Kansans to carry concealed firearms.
A similar bill passed the House in 1995 but got no further. In 1997, it passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by Republican Gov. Bill Graves. No override was attempted.
It passed again in 2004 but was rejected by Sebelius. The House could not override her veto.
In Sebelius' veto message this year, she said that she signed a bill allowing retired law enforcement officers who have special training to carry concealed weapons.
"As violent crime rates in Kansas continue to drop below surrounding states with concealed carry laws," she wrote, "I continue to hear from the police
