BELLEVUE, WA – The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) today congratulated the Kansas Legislature for passing legislation that will finally allow law-abiding citizens to legally carry concealed firearms for their personal protection.

“Despite a threatened veto by Democrat Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas lawmakers took a courageous vote and proved they are willing to butt heads with the anti-gun media and the shrill voices against self-defense,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan M. Gottlieb. “If the governor carries through on her threat to once again leave her constituents, friends and neighbors defenseless against criminals, we hope the Legislature swiftly and decisively overrides that veto.”

CCRKBA Executive Director Joe Waldron added, “Gov. Sebelius is probably going to use the unfounded concerns of some civic leaders, a few misguided law enforcement officials, and hysteria of the gun control crowd as cover for her expected veto. Despite the rhetoric about vigilantism and gunfights at stoplights, there is no historical evidence of such outbreaks in any of the dozens of other states where millions of law-abiding citizens already carry concealed firearms, and they know it. Those predictions are simply hot air and smoke designed to obscure the real objective of concealed carry opponents, which is to keep citizens disarmed.”

The measure had earlier passed the Kansas State Senate on a vote of 29-11, and this morning, the House of Representatives passed the bill with a lopsided 90-33 margin. Those numbers amount to a veto-proof majority in both houses, according to the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Phil Journey (R-Haysville).

“Senator Journey is a steadfast proponent of firearms civil rights,” Gottlieb observed. “He understands the difference between good guys and criminals, which is more than one can say about the opponents of this legislation.

“We encourage Kansas gun owners to call the Governor’s office in Topeka,” Gottlieb said, “and urge her to do the right thing. Ask her why Kansas citizens are somehow less trustworthy with their own safety than citizens in 46 other states.”