Video: AK-47 Owner Brings Gun to KC Federal Courthouse January 18, 2013

Man Marches at KC Federal Courthouse With AK-47 to Protest Obama Gun Plans January 18, 2013

Stan Nyhart with his AK-47 in front of KC Federal Courthouse.

A man with an unloaded AK-47 rifle marched back and forth in front of the Kansas City federal courthouse for about 30 minutes Friday morning.
Stan Nyhart, who says he lives most of the time on 28 acres in Hickory County, Missouri, says he wants people to know he thinks, “Obama is a traitor”, for trying to ban military-style assault rifles, like his.
He was watched closely by police during his protest march at the foot of the courthouse steps.
The police say Nyhart informed them in advance of his protest. Police say his weapon was checked. It was not loaded and his protest was legal. He drew several stares from people who walked by him.
Nyhart detests President Obama’s plans for banning weapons like his AK-47 and the 30 round clipped attached to it. “He is an absolute criminal, in my opinion.” Nyhart said.
He added that goes for others who support the President’s proposals to Congress.
“Liberal, progressive, Democrats,” he declared, ” don’t try to take my rights away.

Blunt Skeptical of Any Gun Changes December 17, 2012

Missouri Senator Roy Blunt says he thinks there is no chance Congress will pass any restriction on guns in the aftermath of the Connecticut school shootings last week.
“Right now I am sure I would vote against anything that would negatively impact the Second Amendment,” said Blunt
Blunt told reporters in Kansas City he does not see any support in either the Senate or House for approving measures affecting the gun rights.
That would include, said the republican, any effort to renewal the ban against the sale of semi-automatic weapons.
“I just don’t have any reason to believe anything that has anything to do with this incident,” said Blunt,”and i also don’t think it has any chance at passing in the Senate”.
The Senate is controlled by the Democrats and will be next session as well.
it appears several Democratic Senator may try to push for some gun legislation.
Blunt says it would be more likely there are changes, and maybe even increased funding, at the federal level for addressing issues surrounding mental health.
He says Congress may look at the federal role in mental health rules and regulations. Mental health issues are often dealt with at the state level.
The federal impact could be felt through federal funding of state Medicaid programs.
A report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a trade group, says in 2011, the state of Missouri increased its spending on mental illness.
Missouri increase funding by nearly 4%. That was the highest amount in the nation.
The same group says Kansas descreased it funding in 2011 by 16%. That was oone of the five largewst descreases at any state capital.

Sedgwick County Commissioner wants to be abl;e to carry Guns into County Buildings August 3, 2011

(AP) – A Sedgwick County commissioner believes prohibitions against carrying concealed weapons in public buildings infringes on the rights of people with permits to carry the weapons and he wants the commission to change the rules.

Concealed guns are prohibited in all 78 of the buildings Sedgwick County owns and leases. Commissioner Richard Ranzau, who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun, said the buildings were put off limits when the state passed its concealed-carry law in 2006 without the county establishing any regulations.

“It’s fundamental that I have a right to do it,” Ranzau said Tuesday during a meeting with county staff. “That’s the rule. To exclude it, we have to have a compelling reason. We need a policy that clearly shows the public we that we take their rights seriously and we’re not going to restrict those rights without some form of due process.”