TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators rejected more than half a dozen proposed gun-control measures Thursday, including a ban on using bump stocks and a waiting period for buying guns.

Two relatively narrow bills served as the backdrop for a debate in the state Senate, and both passed without amendments. One, approved 40-0, is designed to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. The other , which passed 25-15, makes other states’ licenses to carry concealed guns valid in Kansas. The House passed both earlier this year but must consider changes made by senators.

It was the Republican-controlled Legislature’s first major debate on gun issues since a school shooting last month in Florida that left 17 people dead. Sen. Ty Masterson, a conservative Andover Republican, said all lawmakers agree that such incidents are true tragedies but suggested that gun-control advocates equated the mere presence of guns with “active bodily harm.”

“It’s an irrational, unfounded fear,” Masterson said.

Democrats were behind the majority of proposed amendments to the bills. Democratic Sen. Tom Hawk of Manhattan said it is up to the Legislature to shield children from gun violence, which he said is a goal that the amendments would have helped achieve.

“The adults in this country allowed this situation to develop,” Hawk said. “If we don’t get this right it will be our eternal shame.”

But one after the other, the amendments failed during the four-hour debate.

Legislators narrowly rejected a proposal Thursday from Democratic Sen. Lynn Rogers of Wichita to make it illegal for gun owners to use bump stocks to make semi-automatic rifles mimic fully automatic ones.

Rogers offered the bump-stock proposal as an amendment to the bill that would clarify rules for allowing people who have permits to carry concealed weapons in other states to carry concealed while in Kansas.

He argued that banning the use of bump stocks would reduce deaths from gun violence. His amendment would not have made mere possession of a bump stock illegal.

But Masterson said the ban would be ineffective. He said gun owners can use a belt loop to increase a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire so that it mimics a fully automatic one. The Senate was evenly split at 20-20.

Sen. Barbara Bollier, a moderate Mission Hills Republican, proposed a second amendment to the concealed carry bill that would allow someone to go to court to get guns removed from a family member’s home if they believe the family member is a danger to himself or others. But it was ruled out of order because the subject strayed too far from the underlying bill.

Democratic Sen. Pat Pettey of Kansas City proposed a three-day waiting period as a way to prevent suicides and gun violence. But Republican Sen. Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth suggested it would prevent abuse victims from protecting themselves.

Rogers said it is encouraging that the votes against gun-control measures were closer than they have been in the past, though Thursday is likely to be the only day this year that senators fully debate gun issues.

But Bollier said, “This is a public health crisis, and we continue in Kansas not to address it.”

The bill dealing with domestic abusers would make it a felony under state law for anyone convicted of domestic violence to possess a firearm within five years of conviction. It would also be illegal for fugitives to possess guns. It already is a crime under federal law, but supporters of the bill say federal courts and prosecutors are often too busy to handle such cases.

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Kansas legislators have narrowly rejected a proposal to make it illegal to use bump stocks to make semi-automatic rifles mimic fully automatic ones.

The vote Thursday in the state Senate was 20-20. It came on a proposed amendment to a bill sought by the state’s attorney general to clarify rules for allowing people who have permits to carry concealed weapons in other states to carry concealed while in Kansas.

Senators also were debating another amendment to allow someone to go to court to get guns removed from a family member’s home if they believe the family member is a danger to themselves or others.

The Senate’s debate came after it gave first-round approval to a bill designed to keep guns out of the hands of fugitives and domestic abusers.

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3:25 p.m.

Kansas legislators are debating a bill designed to keep guns out of the hands of fugitives and domestic abusers and could consider other gun issues.

The Senate planned to take a final vote Thursday on the measure. The bill would make it a felony under state law for anyone convicted of domestic violence to possess a firearm within five years of conviction. It would also be illegal for fugitives to possess guns.

But senators expected to take up other gun proposals as well during their debate.

It already is a crime under federal law for domestic abusers to have guns. But supporters of the bill say federal courts and prosecutors are often too busy to handle such cases and a separate state law would allow prosecutions in state courts.

RENO COUNTY— A Kansas man who ran from a Reno County courtroom on January 5 entered a plea as charged Wednesday.

Christopher Maberry, 27, is now convicted of aggravated escape from custody.

He ran from the courtroom of Judge Trish Rose, but was caught after discovering the doors in the Law Enforcement Center were locked.

He put his hands up when he discovered the doors wouldn’t budge and told the sheriff’s deputy, who was right behind him, that he was sorry. He was then placed in cuffs and taken to jail.

He has previous convictions for burglary, two convictions for theft, three counts of making false writing and obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. 

He is scheduled for sentencing April 20.

RICE COUNTY — The governor of Kansas took time to talk with Rice County Emergency Management at its command center Thursday.

The stop by Governor Jeff Colyer was part of several across Kansas to tour the wildfires burning across the state.

Colyer says the state’s more proactive approach to fighting wildfires come from lessons learned last year

“We’ve got great teams on the ground and more resources but they are coordinating much better. One of the big things were doing is being aggressive early on, deploying the Blackhawk helicopters early on to augment the team. And fortunately the wind is not as bad as last year.

Greg Klein of Rice County Emergency management expressed his appreciation for the state’s efforts and the ability to use four Black Hawk helicopters during the day Thursday. “This could not have been accomplished as quickly without the assistance of the governor’s office, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management providing the helicopters.”

Fires have been reported in the Kansas City area, Kiowa County and in Seward County in far southwest Kansas.

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RICE COUNTY – UPDATE 5p.m.

Four Black Hawk helicopters put a major dent in the fires that have been burning in Rice County for more than 24 hours. Air drops began again this morning after crews worked to hold their ground on the fires overnight. Sources say the fire is 70 percent contained and has burned nearly 8,000 acres.

No other damage reports have come in, other than the one unoccupied house and out buildings that were reported this morning. Rice County Emergency Management says roads in the area of Plum from Avenue Q to Avenue V and Avenue Q between Plum and 22nd, the road going north out of Nickerson, are still closed.

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RICE COUNTY – UPDATE AS OF 11 A.M.

Fire crews hope that air operations will help slow down three wildfires that continue to burn in Rice County. Fire crews from several departments continue working the blaze, which started around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Rice County Emergency Management says roads in the area of Plum from Avenue Q to Avenue V and Avenue Q between Plum and 22nd, the road going north out of Nickerson, are closed.

With air operations starting up again, the need to stay out of the area is important as air drops cannot be made with personnel or aircraft, such as drones, in the area. Voluntary evacuations are in place, although no shelters have been set up. A tractor trailer rig carrying fuel was on hand to fuel up trucks at the command post at Avenue Q and Plum. As of Wednesday night, more than 40 fire trucks were on hand fighting the fires.

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RICE COUNTY –Fire crews from several departments continued to fight a large wildfire in Rice County overnight. The fire started around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday near the Rice-Reno County Line. Black Hawk helicopters were flown in to help fight the fire.

The fires were burning in an 8 mile by 5-mile area of tall trees and grass, according to Rice Co. Emergency Management Director Greg Klein. “We are struggling getting access to some areas but the helicopters made a difference.” Forty fire crews from across south central Kansas were assisting Rice County in fighting the blaze.

Most roads from the county line to the north in both McPherson and Rice counties are, or have been, closed because of fire and smoke. Plum is still closed from U Avenue north to Q Avenue.

Klein says they hope to get the Black Hawks in the air again during the day Thursday but could not be sure that would happen. Some out buildings and one vacant house have been lost so far and voluntary evacuations are in place although no shelters have been set up as of late last night. A tractor trailer rig carrying fuel was on hand to fuel up trucks at the command post at Avenue Q and Plum.

Another fire was reported around 6 p.m. at the intersection of Buhler Road and US-50 in Reno County, but that fire has been brought under control; crews are staying on site to monitor any hot spots. Injury and damage reports have not been made available at this time.

On Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Jeff Colyer issued a disaster declaration for the fires currently burning in Rice County. County officials say they had exhausted all mutual aid resources and requested assistance from the Kansas National Guard with fire suppression efforts.

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RICE COUNTY – Fire crews from several departments are working a large wildfire in Rice County. It is reported to be south and east of Lyons.

Rice County Emergency Communications asked residents to stay away from the areas of Ave Q between 31st Rd & 22nd Road and south to Avenue V between 31st Road & 22nd Road.

In addition, Plum Steet was closed north of Avenue V and Avenue V is closed west of Plum Street.

The smoke from the fires could be seen in Hutchinson.

Gov. Jeff Colyer, M.D., has issued a disaster declaration for wildland fires currently burning in Rice County. County officials say they have exhausted all mutual aid resources and requested assistance from the Kansas National Guard with fire suppression efforts.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge has declined to end a man’s prison sentence four months early so he could be deported to Mexico to be with his ailing mother.

Shawnee County District Judge Nancy Parrish on Wednesday reaffirmed the full sentence of 40-year-old Victor Anzua-Torres. He was returned to his cell.

Anzua-Torres was convicted of reckless second-degree murder for the December 2005 head-on collision that killed 28-year-old paramedic Ryan Ostendorf. Anzua-Torres was driving on the wrong side of a road and also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol. He was sentenced to 13 years and nine months. Four months remain on the sentence.

Anzua-Torres’ mother lives in Mexico. She is battling heart disease, high blood pressure and other ailments.

Prosecutors opposed the reduced sentence.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — Security guards at a Leavenworth middle school will be carrying firearms beginning next week.

The Leavenworth Board of Education voted Wednesday to buy the firearms and other equipment such as handcuffs and Tasers.

The Leavenworth Times reports two retired law enforcement officers who work at Richard Warren Middle School will begin using the equipment when students return to school next week after spring break.

A statement from the board said the officers will be responsible for the equipment and will be certified twice a year with the Leavenworth Police Department.

Leavenworth High School already has an armed school resource officer from the city police department.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for a gunshot that struck a 5-year-old girl at a hotel in Lenexa.

Antwaun Nelson Fulton, 36, Topeka, was sentenced Thursday. He pleaded guilty in January to felony charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.

The child suffered non-life threatening injuries to her leg when she was shot in July at the Crossland Economy Studios. Authorities say Fulton was shooting at a man with whom he had a previous dispute.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and school district officials are investigating a suspect for an alleged threat and have made an arrest.

Just before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday police reported receiving multiple calls about a threat on twitter that threatened violence at Wichita Northwest High School, according to officer Charley Davidson.  Police were also notified of the alleged threat trough crime-stoppers and via social media.

Police in cooperation with USD 259 began investigating the case immediately and worked through the night.  Officers arrested a 14-year-old girl and booked her into juvenile detention for alleged criminal threat, according to Davidson.  A weapon was included in the threat, according to Davidson.

Police provided additional security at the school Thursday.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and school district officials are investigating a suspect for an alleged threat and have made an arrest.

On Wednesday evening, Wichita Northwest High School reported the alleged social media threat, according to the school’s Facebook and Twitter feed.

Early Thursday, the school reported that police arrested a suspect and that the phone or device used with evidence had also been recovered.

There was increased security at the school Thursday and all activities were to continue as scheduled, according to USD 259.