Sen. Pat Roberts, the dean of Kansas’ Congressional delegation, told reporters today that the National Rifle Association will need to be flexible in the coming days.
The Dodge City Republican said he supports banning bump stocks.
“Then there’s talk about the AR-15, or the AK-47… If people want that, then they’re going to have to be older, obviously, they’re going to have to have training if that’s the case. Hunters don’t use that, and if they do, they shouldn’t,” he said.
He also proposed raising the age of legal assault rifle ownership to 25.
The NRA is having none of it. The nation’s largest gun ownership advocacy group issued a statement yesterday saying proposals that prevent law-abiding adults between the ages of 18 and 20 from owning rifles and shotguns deprives them of their constitutional right to self-protection.
“We need serious proposals to prevent violent criminals and the dangerously mentally ill from acquiring firearms,” NRA Public Affairs Director Jennifer Baker said in the statement. “Passing a law that makes it illegal to purchase a shotgun for hunting or an adult single mother from purchasing the most effective self-defense rifle on the market punishes law-abiding citizens for the evil acts of criminals.”
Roberts said he thinks the NRA will need to be flexible.
“I think it would be in their best interest,” he said.
Roberts and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins toured a kidney dialysis facility in Topeka this afternoon. Jenkins said she anticipates a vigorous debate in Congress in response to the deadly shootings in a Florida high school last week.
“This is becoming all too common,” she said. “I think our constituents are demanding some kind of solution.”
Jenkins won’t seek re-election this year, but Roberts told a group of Republicans at a luncheon in Johnson County, he’s already looking forward to 2020–the year he’ll stand for re-election.