Senator Forrest Knox (R-Altoona). (Source: Kansas Legislature)The Kansas Attorney General's office has received more than 300 letters requesting exemptions from a new gun law. The law requires that legally carried concealed weapons be allowed in public buildings, unless the buildings have security measures like guards and metal detectors in place. But the law also allows local governments like cities and counties to exempt themselves from the requirement, at least temporarily. Senator Forrest Knox, a Republican from Altoona, helped author the bill. He's not surprised at the number of exemptions.
During debate in the Statehouse on the bill, representatives of some local governments said they should be able to decide if concealed guns are allowed in their buildings. Senator Knox says it’s an issue of letting gun owners protect themselves.
The exemptions are six months in length for local governments. Two state agencies are also taking the exemption for some state-run health care facilities. The state's universities and colleges have also exempted themselves from the law, for now.