Bill Would Allow Concealed Weapons In More Public Buildings

The Kansas House has narrowly approved a

bill that would allow Kansans to carry concealed guns into more

public buildings.

The vote Wednesday was 65-57 and sent the bill to the Senate.

The chief sponsor, Republican Rep. Forrest Knox, of Altoona, said

he doubts the Senate will have enough time this year to consider

the measure.

Under the measure, cities, counties and the state couldn’t

prohibit people with concealed carry permits from bringing guns

into buildings unless those buildings had “adequate” security,

such as metal detectors.

The National Rifle Association supported the bill. Knox said it

was about trusting law-abiding citizens.

But state and local officials strongly opposed it, saying they’d

have to weigh installing expensive metal detectors against allowing

concealed weapons.