Kansas Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Kansas Senate Passage of Legislation to Help Keep Guns Out of the Hands of Abusers

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today thanked the Kansas Senate for passing HB 2145, a bill that would close gaps in Kansas law that give domestic abusers easy access to guns, by a 40-0 vote.

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.

The bill now goes back to the House, which passed the legislation last month by a 120-0 vote, for concurrence.. Its passage comes the day after more than a hundred Moms Demand Action volunteers and other gun violence prevention advocates rallied outside the State Capitol and urged the Senate to pass HB 2145.

Also on Thursday, the Kansas Senate passed HB 2042, a bill that would would automatically allow people with handgun permits from other states – including from states that issue permits to 18-, 19-, and 20-year olds – to carry hidden, loaded handguns in Kansas communities.

STATEMENT FROM JO ELLA HOYE, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH KANSAS MOMS DEMAND ACTION, WHO RALLIED AT THE STATEHOUSE ON WEDNESDAY FOR PASSAGE OF HB 2145:

“This is an example of what can happen when we demand common-sense gun laws. Kansans know how to work together, and our lawmakers have done just that in passing bipartisan legislation to protect women and families. We’re grateful our lawmakers have taken action to close these deadly loopholes, and we urge the House to take swift final action to get this bill to the governor’s desk.
As someone who has been volunteering with the gun safety movement for over two years, I am proud to have witnessed my state legislature unanimously support a bill that improves public safety for Kansans.”