Until just a few months ago whenthe Gov signed the Pre-emption law, any municipality,city, town or incorporated village could make and enforce gun laws or ordinances withoutregard to statelaw within their jurisdiction.So there never was a overall or state wideobjective to formulateor codify gunlaws.State laws on the books were only enforceable at"city limits".

As an example,while within state jurisdiction, say driving downKS 54, it is perfectly legal to carry your30-06 hunting rifle with a few rounds in a soft case in the trunk of your car. When youcrossedinto Wichita city limits, you are in violation of the city ordinance where it is illegal totransport a weapon and live ammunition in "close proximity"as in the same case oreven in the trunk.In the same way, whille it was legal to have a "detachable" magazine that held more than 10 rounds in some parts of Kansas, it was not legal in Topeka. and so on and on.

The pre-emption law passed this past spring pre-empts or supercedes any law or ordinancethat exceeds or goes beyond state law. Now that we have some consistency, maybewe can develop amore "common sence" approach to our state's gun laws. There are still a few states that do not have pre-emption laws but not many.