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State Hospitals, Nursing Homes Seek Exemption from Kansas Gun Law

The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services says it would cost more than $10 million a year to ​buy metal detectors and hire armed guards.
The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services says it would cost more than $10 million a year to ​buy metal detectors and hire armed guards.

Public health facilities in Kansas are urging lawmakers to grant an exemption to a new law set to take effect on July 1 that would require all public buildings to allow the concealed carry of guns. A Senate committee considered a bill Thursday that would exempt state hospitals, nursing homes, and mental health facilities from having to allow guns unless they buy metal detectors and hire armed guards. Kimberly Lynch, attorney for the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, says the department would have to spend more than $10 million a year to secure its four hospitals for people with mental illness and developmental disabilities.


Concealed carry advocates say citizens must be able to defend themselves wherever they are. Opponents worry about the cost of security and about mental patients getting their hands on a gun. Several other proposals, including one that would exempt college campuses, have failed to get out of committee this session. 

The Kansas News Service produces essential enterprise reporting, diving deep and connecting the dots in tracking the policies, issues and and events that affect the health of Kansans and their communities. The team is based at KCUR and collaborates with public media stations and other news outlets across Kansas. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is made possible by a group of funding organizations, led by the Kansas Health Foundation. Other founders include United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Sunflower Foundation, REACH Healthcare Foundation and the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.