Topeka ? “Lock and load,” joked Rep. Paul Davis, a Democrat from Lawrence.

Qualified Kansans will be able to carry concealed guns as early as January under a bill put into law Thursday despite Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ veto.

The quick draw by the Legislature took only moments and came with no debate as the Senate overrode Sebelius 30-10 on Wednesday evening, and the House piled on 91-33 Thursday morning. Both votes surpassed the two-thirds majorities needed to overcome a veto.

“In some ways it’s anticlimactic after 14 years of work,” said Senate sponsor Phil Journey, R-Haysville.

Leaning against a rail outside the House chamber, Journey, wearing a National Rifle Assn. pin and gun-shaped tie clasp, said: “I’m elated at the same time. I think it’s good public policy. Kansans are going to be safer.”

Opponents of the bill, including Davis, disagreed.

“I don’t think putting more guns in the hands of people in public places is going to lead to greater public safety,” he said.

Autumn Graber, of Wakefield, looks at a handgun with her husband, Rob Graber, and their 7-month-old son Brett on Thursday afternoon at Cabela's in Kansas City, Kan. On Thursday morning, House legislators passed the concealed carry bill by a vote of 91-33, enough to override a veto by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The override ended years of political wrangling. Gov. Bill Graves vetoed concealed carry in 1997, and Sebelius in 2004.

This time, however, the veto didn’t stick.

Journey said he thought that was because concealed carry had a track record of working in nearly every other state in the nation. Only Illinois, Nebraska and Wisconsin won’t allow residents to carry hidden guns.

Under the bill, Kansas residents 21 or older with no criminal background or history of mental illness or drug abuse could obtain a four-year permit after completing an eight-hour training course.

The law takes effect July 1, but it will take several months to ramp up the administrative process to grant permits. The first permits are expected to be issued in January 2007. Those receiving permits must pay a $150 fee.

Sebelius vetoed the measure Tuesday, saying it would endanger the public and law enforcement.

Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth, the House sponsor, said Sebelius was wrong.

“It doesn’t make Kansas any less safe now. That’s kind of an insult to law-abiding Kansans,” Ruff said.

After the House vote, Ruff said she had three telephone calls to make: the first to her husband, and the others to two constituents who were raped and wanted to be able to carry a gun.

Ruff said the law gives Kansans a choice.

“If somebody feels a need or is compelled for their own individual reasons to carry a concealed firearm, now they can do so, if they are law-abiding citizens,” she said.

She said she doubted it would have an effect one way or the other on the crime rate.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office corrections officer Dennis Talley operates the metal detector at the entrance to the Douglas County District Court. On Thursday, the concealed carry bill became law, which may increase the demand for metal detectors.

But Journey said it would.

“Many criminals are rational human beings, and when they realize there is a good chance that they could get shot committing a violent crime, they’ll probably decide to do something else,” he said.

One aspect of the law that didn’t get much notice is that it will pre-empt hundreds of local ordinances regulating guns.

“Cities have been regulating firearms in Kansas before the state became a state,” said Kim Winn, director of policy development and communications for the League of Kansas Municipalities. “The earliest one we found on the books is from 1863 in the city of Lawrence.”

But Winn said cities would have to repeal those ordinances.

Journey said it wouldn’t be difficult to comply.

“The sky is falling for Chicken Little and the league,” he said.

Interim City Manager David Corliss said Lawrence would have to get its ordinances in compliance with the impending state law.

“We’re going to need to look at it,” he said.

Sebelius urged legislators to put the issue behind them now that it has been resolved.

“Now I’m hopeful the Legislature turns its attention to its most important work, which is making sure all Kansas children attend quality schools,” she said.