GARNETT — When voters head to the polls Nov. 2, they’ll face two
state constitutional amendments. The Anderson County Review reports those amendments are not well-known — even to political insiders. One amendment is about the U.S. Second Amendment — concerning the right to bear arms. The proposed amendment would expand the definition in the state constitution. Supporters say the amendment allows Kansans more protections in defending themselves and their property.
Washburn University political science professor and political analyst Bob Beatty said the U.S. Supreme Court often defers to state laws in Second Amendment cases. The other amendment would restrict the legislature’s authority to keep people with mental illness from voting. Currently, felons and people with mental illness could be prohibited from voting, although the legislature has never done so for anyone with mental illnesses. Supporters say that the state constitution presently allows legislators to discriminate against the 25 percent of people have some type of mental illnesses such as depression.
Monday, Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m.