We regret to inform you that Governor Kelly’s veto of House Bill 2304, which sought to establish firearm safety education curricula for students of all ages using the tried-and-tested NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism’s existing Hunter Education In Our Schools, was not overridden due to one Republican, Rep. David Younger, not voting for it after he committed to doing so. This is the second time the Governor has vetoed this critical bill, despite overwhelming bipartisan support. We believe that the safety of our children should always be a top priority, and the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program has been teaching children gun safety for over 30 years, reaching more than 2 million children across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
However, we are pleased to report that Governor Kelly signed Senate Bill 116 into law, eliminating the Attorney General’s $100 fee for concealed carry permits, and reducing the total fee to just $32.50, which is paid to county sheriffs. This NRA-backed bill ensures that the permit, and the benefits it offers in exercising Second Amendment rights, are more accessible to law-abiding citizens.
We want to thank Attorney General Kris Kobach for championing this bill, Senator Chase Blasi for introducing it, and State Representative Rebecca Schmoe for guiding it through the legislative process. We will be returning to Topeka for the 2024 session, and in the meantime, please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on issues affecting our Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage in Kansas.
