Constitutional Carry Bill Heads to Kansas Governor’s Desk

by Bob Owens: Congratulations, Kansas. You are about to rejoin those free states allowing constitutional carry.Kansas is poised to join a handful of other states that allow their residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit after the Legislature gave final approval Wednesday to a bill backed by the National Rifle Association.

The measure was headed to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback despite some lawmakers’ misgivings about the state dropping its requirement that anyone seeking to carry a concealed firearm undergo at least eight hours of training. Brownback’s office didn’t say what his plans are, but he’s signed every other major gun-rights measure sent to him since taking office in January 2011.

Kansas would become the fifth state to allow concealed carry without a permit everywhere within its borders, according to the NRA.

“Carrying a gun is a lifestyle,” said Republican Rep. Travis Couture-Lovelady. “The government should trust its citizens.”West Virginia was actually slightly ahead of Kansas in passing a constitutional carry bill through its legislature, but the bill was vetoed by West Virginia’s Democrat Governor, Earl Ray Tomblin. West Virginia’s legislature seems to have the votes to easily override Tomblin’s veto, and we hope that the legislature will take up that override vote soon.

You’ll note that both Kansas and West Virginia were able to get as far as they have without obnoxious and intentionally provocative open carry demonstrations near schools, in the legislature, or in private businesses that unnecessarily added additional hurdles and gave gun control groups ammunition to fight against us.

Tactics matter.

Firearm rights campaigners in other states need to study carefully how the organizations in Kansas and West Virginia are building coalitions. In both of these states, supporters worked diligently and with resolve, while making sure not to do anything to generate or intensify opposition.

Anyone who looks at trends is well aware of the fact that firearms freedom is spreading in all but the most restrictive and liberty-challenged states. The momentum is on our side and legislators in both major parties know it. We will prevail… as long as some of the more “politically challenged” on our side don’t get in our way.

Fight smart. Win.
---------------
Bob Owens is the Editor of BearingArms.com.

---

Tags: Kansas, constitutional carry, bill, goes to governor, for signature To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!