House OKs gun bill
Related Stories
* WU students react to gun bill
Conceal carry would be allowed in places where its currently banned
By Barbara Hollingsworth
Created March 24, 2010 at 3:38pm
Updated March 25, 2010 at 12:05am
The House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that would throw open the door to Kansans who want to carry concealed weapons in many buildings currently off limits.
The House voted 65-57 in support of a bill that would allow the carrying of concealed weapons in municipal and state agency buildings unless the facility has enough security measures in place to ensure no weapons are permitted in the building. The bill would exclude school districts and would require that the carrier have a concealed-carry permit.
"This is a matter of trust," said Rep. Forrest Knox, R-Altoona. "Do you trust law-abiding citizens?"
The legislation was supported by the National Rifle Association but opposed by other groups, including the Kansas Board of Regents and the Kansas Peace Officers Association. The Kansas Association of Counties estimated that securing entrances would cost $2,500 per entrance for equipment, plus ongoing costs to pay for staffing.
The state's 2006 conceal-and-carry act allows signs to be posted on buildings, including government buildings, restricting the concealed carrying of firearms.
Rep. Annie Kuether, D-Topeka, noted opposition from law enforcement groups and the cost of securing buildings. Several noted that the Capitol wouldn't be considered secure under the bill.
"I for one am not comfortable with thinking that people are going to be coming into this building with guns, especially considering what's going on in the nation with hot tempers," she said.
Knox said posting a no-guns sign on buildings makes them less secure.
"I maintain to you if we can't provide the security in a public building then we should not deny our citizens the right we have given them in law to provide for their own security," he said.
The bill (HB 2685) now moves to the Senate.
Topeka representatives voting yes were Republicans Mike Burgess, Lana Gordon and Joe Patton. Voting no were Democrats Kuether, Sean Gatewood, Harold Lane, Ann Mah and Annie Tietze.
|