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Bill would ban 'ghost guns' in the state of Kansas

Overland Park Democrat Cindy Holscher introduced the bill after shooting at Olathe East

Bill would ban 'ghost guns' in the state of Kansas

Overland Park Democrat Cindy Holscher introduced the bill after shooting at Olathe East

816-474-TIPS. POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM OF A DEADLY CRASH NEAR KCI. MICHAEL R. SMITH WAS IN AN SUV ON 435 NEAR NORTHWEST SKYVIEW ON FRIDAY MORNING. THE VEHICLE HIT AN ICY PATCH AND FLIPPED DOWN AN BAEMNKMENT. THE 37-YEAR-OLD WAS FROM KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. THREE OTHER PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH. A BILL INTRODUCED IN TOPEKA TODAY WOULD BAN SO-CALLED GHOST GUNS IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. THE JOHNSON COUNTY D.A. SAYS THAT TYPE OF GUN WAS USED IN THE SHOOTING AT OLATHE EAST HIGH SCHOOL. KMBC 9’S MATT EVANS HAS MORE FROM THE BILL SPONSOR. >> YES, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE RS 36.32 MATT: IN A SATENE COMMITTEE ISTH MORNING, OVERLAND PARK DEMOCRAT CINDY HOLSCHER INTRODUCED THE BILL, EXACTLY ONE WEEK AFTER JOHNSON COUNTY D.A. STEVE HOWE CALLED ON LAWMAKERS TO LOOK INTO GHOST GUNS. SEN. HOLSCHER: THE PROBLEM IS, AND PROBABLY THE REASON WHY THE D.A. SAID SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE, IS BECAUSE A GHO GSTUN MAKES IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO TRACE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PRODUCT. THAT’S PART OF THE ISSUE. MATT: WHILE WE STILL DON’T HAVE THE FULL TEXT OF THE LEGISLATION, SENATOR HOLSCHER SAYS SHE MODELED IT AFTER A BILL RECENTLY SIGNED INTO LAW IN DELAWARE. SEN. HSCOLHER: WE’RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE FACT WE DON’T WANT PEOPLE GETTING THEIR HANDS ON THESE, WHEN IT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS. MA: TTTHAT DELAWARE LAW, AMONG MANY THINGS, MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO MAKE OR OWN A GUN WITHOUT A SERIAL NUMBER AND OUTLAWS ANY GUNS WITH COMPONENTS MADE BY A 3D PRINTER. IT’S ALREADY FACING A LEGAL CHALLENGE AND KANSAS GUNHTS R ADVOCATES TOLD US LAST W
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Bill would ban 'ghost guns' in the state of Kansas

Overland Park Democrat Cindy Holscher introduced the bill after shooting at Olathe East

A bill introduced in Topeka on Monday would ban so-called "ghost guns" in the state of Kansas. The Johnson County, Kansas district attorney said that type of gun was used in the shooting at Olathe East High School.In a Senate committee, Overland Park Democrat Cindy Holscher introduced the bill exactly one week after Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe called on lawmakers to look into ghost guns."The problem is and probably the reason why the DA said something needed to be done is because a ghost gun makes it much more difficult to trace the ownership of the product so that's part of the issue," Holscher said.While the full text of the legislation hasn't been released, Holscher said she modeled it after a bill recently signed into law in Delaware."We're trying to address the fact we don't want people getting their hands on these when it shouldn't happen in particular situations," Holscher said.The Delaware law, among many things, makes it illegal to make or own a gun without a serial number and outlaws any guns with components made by a 3-D printer. It's already facing a legal challenge. Kansas gun rights advocates told KMBC last week that those kinds of laws could violate the Second Amendment."I would view any law like this with skepticism, but of course, I'd have to read it," Kris Kobach said last week.Holscher, whose son attends Olathe East, said that's not the goal here. For her, she said it's all about safety."That's what we're talking about. We're just talking about reasonable measures," she said.That bill could be first read in the Senate sometime this week. Lawmakers are running out of time in Topeka. They're set to adjourn the session on April 1.

A bill introduced in Topeka on Monday would ban so-called "ghost guns" in the state of Kansas. The Johnson County, Kansas district attorney said that type of gun was used in the shooting at Olathe East High School.

In a Senate committee, Overland Park Democrat Cindy Holscher introduced the bill exactly one week after Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe called on lawmakers to look into ghost guns.

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"The problem is and probably the reason why the DA said something needed to be done is because a ghost gun makes it much more difficult to trace the ownership of the product so that's part of the issue," Holscher said.

While the full text of the legislation hasn't been released, Holscher said she modeled it after a bill recently signed into law in Delaware.

"We're trying to address the fact we don't want people getting their hands on these when it shouldn't happen in particular situations," Holscher said.

The Delaware law, among many things, makes it illegal to make or own a gun without a serial number and outlaws any guns with components made by a 3-D printer. It's already facing a legal challenge. Kansas gun rights advocates told KMBC last week that those kinds of laws could violate the Second Amendment.

"I would view any law like this with skepticism, but of course, I'd have to read it," Kris Kobach said last week.

Holscher, whose son attends Olathe East, said that's not the goal here. For her, she said it's all about safety.

"That's what we're talking about. We're just talking about reasonable measures," she said.

That bill could be first read in the Senate sometime this week. Lawmakers are running out of time in Topeka. They're set to adjourn the session on April 1.