© 2024 KMUW
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Concealed Guns Now Allowed In 91 Out Of 107 Public Buildings In Wichita

Wichita will allow concealed guns in nearly all of its city-owned buildings including libraries, recreational centers, CityArts and the Wichita Art Museum.

The city council voted on Tuesday to allow people carrying concealed guns in all but 16 of 107 city-owned buildings, beginning Jan. 1.

The Wichita Eagle reports that council member Janet Miller called the vote a "tragedy."

Guns will be banned at City Hall, Mid-Continent Airport buildings, police buildings and city housing department facilities.

Operators that lease city buildings, such as the Wichita Boathouse, will determine if guns will be allowed.

City staff proposed banning guns in 34 buildings.

Deputy City Attorney Sharon Dickgrafe said the only way to prevent lawsuits was to allow concealed-carry in most buildings.

Janet Miller and Lavonta Williams voted against opening the buildings.

A law the state legislature passed last year allows Kansans with concealed carry permits to bring their registered guns into public buildings. The law took effect July 1.

The law allows local governments to exempt public buildings if they have proper postings and adequate security measures, like metal detectors and security guards.

Also Tuesday, Lawrence city commissioners approved a resolution seeking a four-year exemption from the Kansas concealed carry law. 
 
The resolution gives Lawrence officials time to sort out where guns will be allowed in the future.
 

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.