Well there you have it Kansas Governor Bill Graves has vetoed the Right To Carry Bill. While I am not real happy about having government officials saying who should and shouldn't carry concealed weapons it was a step in the right direction to get guns back in the hands of law abiding citizens. I am disappointed that the Governor a Republican did not sign this bill into law.

There is an opportunity here for the Kansas Legislature to make an even better law than the Right to Carry Bill. What the Legislators need to do is to look at legislation that will repeal all Kansas laws that restrict the right of gun ownership and self protection. It has been proven that with every restrictive gun law, new and even more violent crimes are committed, and with those restrictive laws more victims. Also with this increase in crime the criminals are more bold and brazen than ever. Only when legislators realize that only law abiding citizens obey laws, and that restrictive gun laws restrict those citizens from protecting themselves will we have a government that is truly for the citizens.

It has been my observation over the past 40 years that as more laws are made more victims are made. How can this be? We have a government that is "by the people and for the people" but it is making it's own citizens victims. By allowing criminals rights in prison we send the signal that it is OK to commit crimes. What ever happened to the old saying "If you can't do the time don't commit the crime."? By sending criminals to country club prisons and restricting only their travel what does that have to say about our governments value of the victims life?

It has been my experience that those who own guns have a great respect of life. After all the Bible teaches us to respect life. In the 23rd book of Psalms, David wrote, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." How angry would the people have been then if they had required a five day waiting period for a rod and staff ? Or permission own or carry same by their government? With the threat of terrorism foreign and domestic today it is clear that we all live in the "valley of the shadow of death" this is why we have to keep asking for our government to give us back the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Sincerely,

Jim Gibb

PS

Tonight, April 22, 1997, News reports are that our Republican Governor Bill Graves Vetoed an anti-abortion bill. He ran as a Republican.