Lush to Arm Guard and US Based Troops Picks Up Local Steam July 20, 2015

The call to arm Missouri and Kansas National Guard troops and American military in general, is picking up steam.

Monday, a Kansas Senator and two area members of Congress joined the call.

Kansas 3rd District Congressman Kevin Yoder was first to call for more protection last week. His call came after the deadly shooting of five Marines in Tenn.

“This has been a wake-up call for many of us to say this kind of tragedy could happen–could happen again,” Yoder said in an interview with KMBC TV.

Today Yoder was joined by House colleague, Rep. Lynn Jenkins. She also supports a bill from Rep. Duncan Hunter permitting troops to carry weapons on base.

That is something that has not been permitted at military installations for decades.
Kansas Senator Jerry Moran says he will introduce a measure very similar to the Duncan measure Yoder and Jenkins support.

‘These brave individuals must be empowered to defend themselves,” Moran said.

Western Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartlzer’s office announced Monday she supports language in a defense bill that would permit base commanders to decided whether or not troops on a base could carry weapons.

Six governors have changed their guard procedures permitting firearms since the shootings last week..

A spokeswoman for Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s office says the Guard’s Adjutant General is looking into the matter.

Two Missouri politicians, GOP gubernatorial candidate John Brunner and Republican candidate for Secretary of State, Will Kraus want Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to permit Guard members who have concealed carry permits in their civilians lives, to be able to have their weapons with them during training.

Another Missouri Voter UD Petition to Circulate July 8, 2015

(AP) – A Republican candidate for Missouri secretary of state now can gather signatures for a voter identification initiative petition.
Democratic Secretary of State Jason Kander on Tuesday announced the proposed constitutional amendment can begin circulating.
If approved by voters, the petition by St. Louis Republican Jay Ashcroft would amend the state constitution to allow lawmakers to pass a bill requiring voters to bring a photo ID to the polls.
Ashcroft will start touring Missouri on Wednesday to promote the initiative petition. He faces fellow Republican state Sen. Will Kraus, of Lee’s Summit, in a bid for secretary of state in 2016. Kraus also has introduced measures to place voter ID on the ballot and says he supports the initiative petition.
Kander is running for U.S. Senate in 2016.

Jay Ashcroft Joins GOP SOS Race, Kraus-Bring ‘ Em On February 19, 2015

Jay Ashcroft, the son of former Attorney General and Missouri Senator John and Janet Ashcroft, is running for the GOP nomination for Secretary of State.
Ashcroft had been considering making the race according to reports. He jumped in on the day the 2016 Secretary of State’s race became an open seat.
“Missouri is desperately in need of leaders who will fight for our state’s common sense conservative values,” Ashcroft said in a statement.
Democratic incumbent, Jason Kander, announced her would run for the US Senate next year ( see previous posts).
Lee Sumitt Republican State Senator Will Kraus has already started his SOS drive.
He was expecting to take on Kander.
“Today’s announcement by the secretary of state that he will not run for re-election will not change my priorities or my direction, nor will the emergence of any primary opponent,” a Kraus news release stated today.

Will Kraus Launches Campaign Vid for Missouri SOS Race January 29, 2015

Lee’s Sumitt Republican Will Kraus’ first campaign vid for the 2016 Secretary of State race looks at his time as a soldier in Iraq:

Nixon Vetoes Teachers With Guns Bill July 15, 2014

(AP) – Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed legislation Monday that would have allowed specially trained teachers to carry concealed guns, asserting that the move could jeopardize student safety in public schools.

The veto by the Democratic governor sets up a potential showdown with the Republican-led Legislature, which could override Nixon if it gets a two-thirds vote of both chambers during a September session.

Nixon announced the veto with a written statement on the deadline day for him to take action on bills passed earlier this year.

“Arming teachers will not make our schools safer,” he said. “I have supported and will continue to support the use of duly authorized law enforcement officers employed as school resource officers, but I cannot condone putting firearms in the hands of educators who should be focused on teaching our kids.”

The Missouri legislation called for allowing public school districts to designate certain teachers or administrators as “school protection officers,” who would undergo special training to carry concealed weapons.

Supporters contend that armed school personnel could save students’ lives by responding to an attacker without waiting precious minutes for police to arrive.

“I am disappointed this governor, who was all but absent during the process, has chosen to veto a bill designed to protect our children,” said sponsor Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit.