(AP) - Individuals could own machine guns, other
fully automatic firearms, sawed-off shotguns and silencers under a
bill the House has passed.
The vote Friday was 105-18.
The measure is the House's version of a Senate-passed bill
making it a felony to deface or remove serial numbers or other
identifying marks on a firearm.
A House committee wanted to rewrite a state law limiting the
possession of silencers, sawed-off shotguns and automatic weapons.
In December, the attorney general had issued a legal opinion saying
part of the law is so restrictive that only law enforcement
agencies can possess silencers - meaning no dealer can have them in
Kansas, even to deliver to those agencies.
In amending the Senate bill, the House committee decided to make
it legal for individuals to own such guns. But they would still
have to comply with federal laws requiring background checks.
The House's change will become an issue when the two chambers
negotiate over the final version of the bill.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)