Kansas legislators are likely to consider allowing people to carry concealed firearms without requiring a state permit.

Twenty-six of the Kansas Senate’s 40 members introduced a bill Wednesday to end the permitting requirement. The lead sponsor is Majority Leader and Nickerson Republican Terry Bruce.

Bruce said it makes sense to allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit because they already can carry firearms openly. He said the measure advances gun rights.

Lawmakers last year prohibited cities and counties from restricting the open carrying of firearms, though state law didn’t ban the practice. The state has issued concealed carry permits since 2007.

Under the bill, people could still seek concealed-carry permits if they wanted to be able to carry their weapons in other states that recognize Kansas permits.