Daily Archives: July 31, 2012

Should city try to block open-carry?

July 31, 201211:57 a.m.

Some Wichita officials and business owners want the city to prevent people from openly carrying firearms without a permit. Wichita used to prohibit this, but a state law blocked local control. One concern is that, unlike conceal-carry, there is no requirement that a person take a weapons safety and training course. “Buy a gun, buy a holster, out the door without any experience,” one local gun-shop manager complained. “It’s a big mistake.” Wichita police also worry that open-carry could make it more difficult for them to tell the good guys from the bad guys. On the other hand, as our editorial today notes, it’s unlikely that many people will openly carry guns. And there haven’t been reports of problems with open-carry elsewhere in the state.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Guns, Wichita government | Comments Off

One county trying to remove barriers to voting

July 31, 20126:01 a.m.

One Kansas county is trying to take some of the hassle out of getting a voter ID. Imagine that. The Douglas County Clerk’s Office began this week issuing free voter-ID cards to registered voters, the Lawrence Journal-World reported. The local system allows residents to avoid the long lines at the Division of Motor Vehicles. Residents also don’t have to produce a birth certificate (which many older citizens don’t have). Instead, the Clerk’s Office will accept a utility bill, bank statement, government check or other government documents (the same documents used to prove residency when registering to vote). The office also plans to send its employees to nursing homes and other sites to help people obtain IDs.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Kansas government, Voting | Comments Off