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Concealed Firearms To Be Allowed in Kansas Capitol

Visitors with a concealed weapons permit will be allowed to bring guns into the Kansas Statehouse starting in July.

As Stephen Koranda reports, that comes after a group of legislators chose not to regulate carrying concealed guns in the Capitol.

A Kansas law grants the Legislative Coordinating Council the authority to bar concealed weapons in the Statehouse. But at their meeting, the council did not take up the issue.

That means concealed carry in the Statehouse will be allowed next month.

Republican Senate President Susan Wagle says people with concealed weapons permits have training and go through background checks. She points out that firearms are allowed in some other public buildings.

“Those who carry concealed they feel like that’s an enhanced measure for the safety of everyone and we agree with that,” says Wagle.

Lawmakers are already allowed to carry concealed weapons in the Capitol if they have a permit.

Stephen Koranda is the managing editor of the Kansas News Service, based at KCUR. He has nearly 20 years of experience in public media as a reporter and editor.