Please join IndivisibleKC, Northeast Kansas chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and Grandparents Against Gun Violence for a Advocacy Day at the Kansas Statehouse.

We will discuss with senators two pieces of gun legislation, HB2145 and HB2042, which passed the Kansas House on final action Friday.

HB2145, which denies firearms to domestic abusers, will help law enforcement in our state, who deal with domestic violence situations involving guns, better protect women and families from their abusers. Research by the Giffords Law Center has revealed:

• Abused women are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if the abuser owns a firearm.
• More than two-thirds of spouse and ex-spouse homicide victims between 1980 and 2008 were killed with firearms.
• In 2011, nearly two-thirds of women killed with guns were killed by their intimate partners.

HB2145 passed the House with amendments on Thursday and on final vote Friday, it passed 120-0. It now goes to the Senate, where we will advocate its support.

HB2042, the concealed carry reciprocity bill, passed Thursday with two amendments:

• It lowers the age to 18 for conceal carry with the requirement that they have training and a permit.
• it requires training and a permit for all individuals who conceal carry on college campuses across Kansas.

On a final vote Friday, bill HB2042 also passed the House 76-44. We oppose this bill, specifically because it lowers the age of conceal carry to 18 from the current age of 21, and will advocate senators on its outcome.

Everyone should plan to arrive at the Capitol by 9:00am. We will gather at the entrance to the Statehouse Gift Shop, which is located to the left after you clear security. You can't miss us. We will be holding a "GVP ADVOCACY DAY" sign. See you there.

Carpooling Option:
If you would like to carpool to Topeka, we will meet at 7:45am in the Capitol Federal building parking lot at the southwest corner of 95th Street and Nall Avenue. Look for a red Honda CRV. We will leave promptly at 8:00am.