Kansas To Allow Guns At The Statehouse

Visitors will be allowed to bring concealed guns into the Kansas Statehouse beginning in July.

Top legislative leaders refused at a meeting Thursday to use authority granted to them by Kansas law to block holders of concealed carry permits from entering the building with their weapons.

To block the policy, the leaders had to act this month.

The Republican-dominated Legislature enacted a law last year aimed at allowing concealed weapons inside more public buildings. It says local governments and state agencies may continue to ban the weapons through 2017 but must declare publicly that the buildings have adequate security plans.

The same law authorized concealed weapons at the Statehouse, absent legislative leaders’ intervention. Several said the law had broad bipartisan support.

Legislators are already allowed to carry concealed firearms.