Yesterday, February 20, the Kansas House Federal and State Affairs Committee passed House Bill 2578 by a unanimous voice vote. Authored by state Representative Richard Carlson (R-61), HB 2578 would require that certification by a chief law enforcement officer (CLEO), when a signoff is required for the transfer of a firearm or other item regulated by the National Firearms Act ("NFA"), be provided within fifteen days as long as the applicant is not prohibited by law from receiving the firearm or other item.
Under current law, a CLEO may refuse to sign off for any reason, including their own personal feelings toward NFA-related items, which has created issues for law-abiding citizens. HB 2578 would bring the CLEO signoff process in line with the standard that sheriffs in Kansas are already using when signing off on a concealed carry permit. By removing any possibility of personal bias, which may reside behind many CLEO's refusing to sign off, and creating a statewide standard, HB 2578 protects the rights of law-abiding gun owners across the Sunflower State.
Please contact your state Representative and respectfully ask him or her to support HB 2578. Contact information for members of the Kansas House of Representatives can be found here.