By Kevin Murphy
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Reuters) - Kansas residents would be allowed to carry concealed weapons without permits under a proposed measure endorsed by a majority of state senators, the bill's author said on Thursday.
Kansas would join Alaska, Vermont, Wyoming and Arizona as states that allow residents to carry concealed weapons statewide without a permit, according to the National Rifle Association, which supports such legislation.
The bill introduced on Wednesday would eliminate background checks, gun training and other requirements that go along with a permit for concealed carry of firearms, Republican state Senator Terry Bruce said.
Kansas already allows open carry of guns without a permit.
"It's like any liberty a person has," Bruce said. "If you are going to own a gun you need to be responsible and if you are going to carry a gun, there is certain due diligence required of you regardless whether or not there is a permitting process."
The bill is co-sponsored by 26 of the 40 senators and must undergo debate in committee before it can be considered in the full Senate and House. Republicans control both chambers.
