Photo by Stephen KorandaVisitors who have a concealed weapons permit will be allowed to bring guns into the Kansas Statehouse starting in July. A state law grants the Legislative Coordinating Council the authority to bar concealed firearms in the Capitol. But at a meeting today (THUR), those legislators chose not to discuss any regulations. That means concealed guns will be allowed in the Capitol next month. Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, says this puts the Statehouse on a par with many other facilities.
Legislators themselves are already allowed to carry concealed weapons in the Statehouse, provided they have a permit.
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Visitors with a concealed weapons permit will be allowed to bring guns into the Kansas Statehouse starting in July. As KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports, that comes after a group of legislators chose not to regulate carrying guns in the Capitol.
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A Kansas law grants the Legislative Coordinating Council the authority to bar concealed weapons in the Statehouse. But at their meeting, the council did not take up the issue. That means concealed carry in the Statehouse will be allowed next month. Republican Senate President Susan Wagle says people with concealed weapons permits have training and go through background checks. She points out that firearms are allowed in some other public buildings.
“Those who carry concealed they feel like that’s an enhanced measure for the safety of everyone and we agree with that,” says Wagle.
Lawmakers are already allowed to carry concealed weapons in the Capitol if they have a permit.