The palm cards Alvin Zahnter is handing out in his long-shot run for U.S. Senate contain a simple, all-caps message: "I praise God, love guns and my state."

During a Tuesday visit to the Topeka Capital-Journal, he wanted to make sure there were no doubts about the firearms portion.

"I'm a gun fanatic," Zahnter said, his head poking out the moonroof of his American flag-adorned Toyota Camry. "I've got some buried. I've got some with me."

When asked to clarify whether he meant he had some in the car he answered in the affirmative: A .22 caliber. He also said he planned to get his concealed carry license.

Zahnter, from Russell, was in Topeka this week to participate in the Fiesta Mexicana parade. He said he hopes to return to the area at the end of the month to tout his candidacy at the Wabaunsee County Fair.

Zahnter and Osawatomie's D.J. Smith face long odds in a Republican primary against longtime U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts and Tea Party-backed radiologist Milton Wolf.

But Zahnter said he isn’t backing down. A Vietnam War veteran, Zahnter said he can't support Wolf in part because Wolf has no military background.

Zahnter said he appreciates Roberts' military service, but the Dodge City native has simply been in office too long.

"I don't play games," Zahnter said. "We need term limits and we don't need Dr. Wolf."

Zahnter said he was turned off by Wolf's posting of patient X-rays on his personal Facebook page.

Roberts' campaign manager declined to comment and Wolf's camp did not immediately respond to an email.

In addition to unwavering support of gun rights, Zahnter is also campaigning on a strong pro-pot platform.

His campaign brochure includes a logo for "Fire it Up Kansas," a group that advocates for legalizing marijuana.

"Too much money's leaving this state," Zahnter said. "Get it here. My farmers, they can make some of that money and create the jobs rather than Colorado getting all the glory."

Zahnter also expressed dismay over the closing last month of a Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs office in Garden City.

The office helped locate services for military veterans who will now have to travel to Fort Dodge for the same assistance.

"The people in southwest Kansas have to take another 50-mile run into Dodge," Zahnter said, "and that's crap."