Topeka ? The chairman of a panel reviewing a proposal that would ban businesses from discriminating against firearms manufacturers and retailers urged Kansas senators Thursday to reject efforts to broaden the protections to include other individuals or industries.

Gun-rights advocates testified in favor of the bill at the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs hearing. But the measure was strongly criticized by lobbyists who wanted to include amendments or feared that it would create potential liabilities.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation__ the trade association for the firearms industry — has urged Kansas and other states to craft legislation seeking to protect those “engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms or ammunition products” from discriminatory practices by service providers such as banks, payment processors or insurance companies.

But opponents of the bill as written proposed amendments Thursday seeking to expand it to include other types of discrimination, drawing a rebuke from Chairman Ralph Ostmeyer.

“What we’re looking at here is a gun bill,” said Ostmeyer, a Grinnell Republican.

Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri lobbyist Elise Higgins said the bill should protect organizations that offer health care for women.

“We hold that just as a person or trade association engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms or ammunition products should not be subject to discrimination because of the nature of their business, so too should a politically controversial organization providing constitutionally protected services such as safe and legal abortions also be protected from discrimination,” Higgins said.

The Executive Director of Equality Kansas Thomas Witt also recommended amendments to the bill that would include protection for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Last year Republican Gov. Sam Brownback rescinded a predecessor’s executive order barring discrimination on sexual orientation and gender identity for public employees in hiring and promotion decisions.

Brownback, a gun rights advocate, said that he was not familiar with the proposed measure after a National Federation of Independent Business conference on Wednesday.