Kansas: Get Guns Out of the Hands of Dangerous, Violent Abusers
- recipient: Kansas State Representatives and Senators, Kansas
It's happened again. Another terrifying shooting spree has left more Americans dead. On February 26, 2016, 14 people were wounded and three killed in a shooting spree near Hesston, Kansas. Witnesses identified the shooter as Cedric Ford — an employee of the company where some of the shootings took place, according to
The Wichita Eagle.
Young had been served a protection order the very day of the shooting because he allegedly hit and choked his live-in girlfriend. "I believe that [being served the protection order] probably is the trigger, and it went from there," local Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton told
CNN.
I grew up in a Kansas town not far from Hesston and was appalled to learn of gaping holes in Kansas gun laws concerning people subject to protection orders. Right now, individuals like the shooter can legally possess deadly firearms like the "long rifle" and "automatic pistol" that Young reportedly used to terrorize the community — even after police have identified them as potentially violent.
Kansas law does NOT prohibit individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders from possessing firearms or ammunition. It also does NOT authorize or require the removal of firearms or ammunition from a person subject to a protection order.
Help prevent another tragedy and save Kansas lives. Please sign my petition and tell your Kansas legislators to close the loopholes in state law that allow domestic abusers to retain their firearms. Dear Decision Maker,
In the wake of the horrifying shooting spree in Harvey County, I was appalled to learn of the gaping holes in Kansas laws that allow individuals subject to protection orders to possess deadly firearms.
As you may know, on the afternoon of February 25 the alleged killer was served a protection order stemming from a February 5 incident in which the suspect reportedly hit and choked his live-in girlfriend.
It's outrageous that this individual was allowed to keep his firearms when the police knew that he posed a clear threat. By definition, individuals who have been served protection orders are those most likely to act in a violent manner and pose the greatest threat to our communities.
[Your comments]
It is time to close the gaping holes in Kansas gun laws that allow abusers to retain their guns. Specifically, the legislature should introduce and pass legislation to:
- Prohibit individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from possessing firearms or ammunition;
- Prohibit individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders from possessing firearms or ammunition, although federal law applies;
- Require courts to notify domestic abusers when they become prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law;
- Require the surrender of firearms or ammunition by domestic abusers who have become prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law; and
- Explicitly authorize or require the removal of firearms or ammunition at the scene of a domestic violence incident.
Federal law does provide some protection from gun-owning individuals under protection orders; however, those laws are limited in scope and largely rely on state enforcement.
In the wake of this awful tragedy, the legislature must send a loud, clear message to the people of Kansas that the state will no longer tolerate keeping guns in the hands of people who will do our communities harm.
Thank you for considering my comments,
[Your name]
