Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (Photo: KAKE)
Kansas Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill last Friday that makes a number of changes to the state’s firearms laws, including a provision that protects the right of government employees to carry concealed firearms while working outside of government buildings.
Previous laws allowed government employees to carry concealed weapons but limited their ability to bring a firearm in government vehicles or out in public, according to a report from the Topeka Capital-Journal.
Beginning July 1, public employers will be prohibited from “restricting or prohibiting through personnel policies any employee legally qualified to conceal carry from carrying a concealed handgun while engaged in employment duties outside the employer’s place of business, including while in a means of conveyance.” The bill specifically exempts school districts from the prohibition.
Both the Kansas House and Senate approved House Bill 2502 by wide margins.
The legislation includes a number of additional gun-related topics, one of which also garnered a fair amount of media attention.
According to the Lawrence Journal-World, a Kansas school district decided last year to prohibit an air gun club from using its gymnasium. The club had been meeting in the same location since 1985, and, according to the club’s organizer, no one had ever been hurt.
The school district remained unconvinced. According to the LJW report, school officials appealed to the Kansas Weapons Free Schools Act, which requires districts to adopt policies prohibiting firearms in schools and to expel any student who violates the policy.
House Bill 2502 amends the Weapons Free School Act to specifically exclude air guns. It also prohibits public schools from “preventing organizations from conducting activities on school property solely because the activities involve the possession and use of air guns.”
Kansas public schools will be required to make their facilities available to air gun clubs in the same way they make their facilities available to other clubs and organizations.
The bill makes a number of additional changes to state firearm law, including:
- Allows active duty military personnel to apply for and receive a Kansas concealed carry license while stationed out of state. As the LJW points out, Kansas no longer requires a concealed carry license, but some residents still use their Kansas license to carry a firearm in states that require a permit.
- The bill makes the requirements for prohibiting concealed carry in public areas the same as those found in existing law for prohibiting concealed carry in public buildings: the building or public area must have adequate security at all public access entrances to ensure no weapons are permitted to be carried in the area or building and must conspicuously post the prohibition. This provision ensures that if a law-abiding citizen does not have a gun, neither does an individual with nefarious intent.
All provisions will go into effect July 1, 2016.
Bad strategy. All of these laws are wrong, and they get you to accept the premise of permits in place of the 2nd amendment.
Our high school back in the fifties had a 22 rifle range in the school building and had a rifle club.
I’m glad the Governor signed the bill, and is being strategic and smart about these types of legislation. The liberals are organized, and the only way we can effectively push back is one step at a time. This is exactly what they do, and I’m glad to see our republican friends using the same tactic. It is not helpful when we try to get sweeping legislation, when we can get a lot if we’re willing to forego getting it all. As more and more state Governors do the same, it will lay the groundwork for more to come. This is how we make change, and we are in dire need of it here in CA. The liberals fear this as they know, just as they are trying to do to our 2nd Amendment rights, we will gain ground if we make small regular steps. Kudos to Gov. Brownback.
“The bill makes the requirements for prohibiting concealed carry in public areas the same as those found in existing law for prohibiting concealed carry in public buildings: the building or public area must have adequate security at all public access entrances to ensure no weapons are permitted to be carried in the area or building and must conspicuously post the prohibition. This provision ensures that if a law-abiding citizen does not have a gun, neither does an individual with nefarious intent.” It does no such thing. What is adequate security? The only time security is inadequate is when it’s breached. It certainly does not ensure no presence of a nefarious individual with a gun. Security officials themselves have proven to be of the nefarious persuasion on occasion. This bill does nothing to expand rights we are born with, given us by our maker and irrevocable by anyone but. The government didn’t take em either. It’s just that some people have been giving em up. Not me ever. The highest law of our land, still not stricken from the record and still in effect. As it is written. Don’t be so gullible, people.
The Left hates Sam Brownback. Never misses an opportunity to slam him in their signature publications. Thus, looks to me like prime Presidential material….head and shoulders above anyone we have in the race right now.
Anybody else ever wonder why the pols always manage to ex c lude the 2nd amendment from government facilities? Wonder what they’re worried about.
I LOVE KANSAS USED TO BE STATION THERE IN USAF THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING A GOOD JOB .I SURE WOULD LIKE TO DEER HUNT I AM 75 YEARS OLD THANKS.
So, government employees are special, better than us, and deserve the rights that have been taken away from us?
No. This simply restores to them the same rights that the rest of us non-government employees have. They can now carry like the rest of us.
Actually many government employees are specifically prohibited from exercising their rights while at work. I am federal and not only are we prohibited from being in possession of firearms, but the “Federal Protective Service” has instituted a far more stringent unsigned, undated policy in which they ban sporting equipment, tools, and even ammunition. We are a ripe target for an attack, which is just what they want.