Hunting constitutional amendment, air guns bill to full House

Bills regarding air gun clubs on school campuses and the right to hunt will advance to the full Kansas House.

The House Federal and State Affairs committee approved a bill that would open up school campuses to air guns, such as BB guns, for shooting clubs to hold practices, competitions and tournaments.

The bill would prevent school districts from prohibiting “an organization from conducting activities on school property solely because such activities include the possession and use of air guns.”

The original bill said the schools could not require those organizations to buy liability insurance. But Rep. Nancy Lusk, D-Overland Park, moved to strike that language.

“I’m uncomfortable with telling local communities that they no longer have the ability to make basic decisions about...the safety of their communities,” Lusk said.

The motion passed after a contested voice vote. It leaves the choice to require insurance with individual school districts.

Several committee members objected to the amendment, with Rep. John Bradford, R-Lansing, saying it “would open up a can of worms.”

A constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right of the public to hunt, fish and trap was approved unanimously by the committee with little fanfare. Hunters, fishers and trappers would still be subject to laws and regulations “that promote wildlife conservation and management.”

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 11:43 AM with the headline "Hunting constitutional amendment, air guns bill to full House."