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Kelley, Trimmer voted to override gun bill

By DAVE SEATON
Staff Writer

Rep. Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, voted to override Gov. Sebelius' veto of a concealed carry bill because he had heard from far more people who supported than opposed the measure.

Trimmer said today he had received 60 to 80 e-mail messages from his district backing the bill before his vote on Thursday.

Trimmer said his vote reflected what he had heard from his district. "I only got three opposed to it," he said.

Trimmer said he thought there were "more important issues than to have a lot of people riled up about" concealed carry.

The Winfield High School teacher was his party's choice for the 78th district seat following the death of Rep. Judy Showalter last year.

Bill Medley, retired superintendent of USD 465 at Winfield, said he had e-mailed Trimmer before the vote. "I oppose concealed carry," Medley said. "I don't think it's necessary."

Joan Kauffman of rural Burden said she strongly opposed concealed carry but had not been able to reach Trimmer. Both Kauffman and Medley said they thought Trimmer had given too much weight to e-mails from an organized interest group, the National Rifle Association.

Trimmer said earlier in the week he voted in favor of concealed carry and wanted to be consistent by voting to override the governor's veto.

Sen. Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, voted to sustain the governor's veto. Kasha Kelley, R-Arkansas City, voted to override.

Kelley said the "vast majority" of constituents who contacted her supported the bill, and she had not heard from anyone opposed to it.

"I'm personally thrilled, and thrilled for my constituents" with the outcome, Kelley said.

Both Trimmer and Kelley downplayed the risks of vigilante shootings as a result of the bill. Both cited what they saw as minor impacts from similar legislation in other states.

Trimmer said he found law enforcement officials in his district ambivalent" about the bill. One law enforcement officer he called was for the bill, Trimmer said. He did not name the officer.

More than one business person was among those who contacted him in support of the bill, Trimmer said. "Some of them were people I know," he said.

The governor rested the case for her veto on opposition from law enforcement and business.

Trimmer said he thought Sebelius and her staff must have considered the override "a bump in the road." The governor's office never contacted him about it, Trimmer said.

The carrying of a concealed firearm will become legal in Kansas Jan. 1, 2007, following screening and training. Firearms may not be carried in schools, sports arenas, government buildings or churches. Businesses may try to prohibit the carrying of firearms on their premises by putting up a sign to that effect.