House Federal and State Affairs Committee Chairman Representative John Barker Vice Chairman Representative Ron Highland
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To: House Federal and State Affairs Committee Chairman Representative John Barker Vice Chairman Representative Ron Highland Ranking Minority Member Representative Louis Ruiz Representative Tory Marie Arnberger Representative Francis Awerkamp Representative Blake Carpenter Representative Stephanie Clayton Representative Ron Ellis Representative Broderick Henderson Representative Dennis Highberger Representative Michael Houser Representative Susan Humpries Representative Trevor Jacobs Representative Jim Karleskint Representative Nancy Lusk Representative Vic Miller Representative Melissa Rooker Representative Tom Sawyer Representative Eric Smith Representative Chuck Weber Representative John Whitmer Representative Kristey Williams Representative John Wilson Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, I am writing this testimony in the hope of assisting our legislators to make informed decisions in regards to allowing concealed carry on college campuses here in Kansas. My name is Justin Converse. I have been a resident of Kansas since 1999 and have always appreciated the freedoms we possess here. One of those freedoms is the right to carry a firearm to defend ourselves from unlawful deadly physical force. I served for a decade in the United States Marine Corps, from 2005-2015. During that time, I worked as a Military Policeman, Special Reaction Team member, Marksmanship Coach, and an Infantryman. Upon my Honorable discharge in March of 2015, I made the decision to relocate back here to be closer to my friends and family. One of the main reasons I chose to do so is the opportunity to obtain a concealed handgun license. I obtained my license through a certified instructor here in the Wichita area in June 2015, shortly before the passage of permitless or “constitutional” carry. Since then, I have obtained employment as a firearms instructor, including state certification as a Concealed Carry Handgun License instructor. I currently hold other certifications through the National Rifle Association as a Basic Pistol and Personal Protection in the Home instructor. In my professional career, I have seen a wide variety of individuals come through my classes from all walks of life. The one common factor is that they realize a deadly force encounter can happen at any time, usually without warning. They seek training to better understand the statutes pertaining to the use of force. I make it a special point in each of my classes that the concealed carry course is not the final class they should take, but rather a starting point in a discipline that requires dedication to become proficient and to lead a safer life. Training to become truly proficient requires dedication and discipline to practicing and refining skill sets and attitude that many people who carry a concealed handgun without the benefits of formal training simply do not possess. Just as one does not become an expert by attending a single martial arts class, one does not become accustomed to safely manipulating a handgun by taking a single course. I have dedicated my life to mastering the art of self-defense through dedicated training and continuing education. Even after serving in the military, I barely consider myself prepared for a deadly force encounter, but still carry a concealed handgun daily in order to be as prepared as possible for the moment when my life or the life of my loved ones is in imminent danger. I have spent countless hours practicing and refining my personal skill set to best be ready to defend myself. The ability to defend ourselves from unlawful physical force is a right that was placed into the foundation of our Nation and confirmed by the U.S. Supreme court in District of Colombia v. Heller and further reinforced by the decision of McDonald v. City of Chicago. With the passage of the Personal and Family Protection Act in its current form, that right extends to all Kansas residents 21 or over that are not otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm by Federal or State law. There should be no difference in where an otherwise lawfully entitled individual has that right. I currently attend classes at Wichita State University as a Criminal Justice major and feel that the security measures in place are inadequate for the students to be protected, yet many students including myself are prevented from exercising our right to self-defense. With all due respect to the officers of the Wichita State University Police Department, Wichita Police Department, and Sedgwick County Sherriff’s office, I do not feel they can prevent every incident of unlawful physical force. Colleges across the county are the number one location for assaults and are prime targets for Active Killer type incidents such as the Virginia Tech shooting. As we see in many of the Active Killer situations that unfold across the county, a lawfully armed and properly trained individual has the potential to put an immediate halt to the actions of mass killers and prevent the loss of life. I urge the members of the State House and Senate to pass legislation that would allow those legally able to do so the fundamental right to self-defense on our state’s campuses. I spent some of the best years of my life defending those rights and our way of life and any infringement thereof is insulting to the sacrifice of those who have served and those who continue to do so. I strongly oppose House Bill 2074 and the accompanying Senate Bill 53 that would restrict my right to self-defense. Respectfully Submitted, Justin Converse .