Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt discusses signage for the state's new gun law.
Topeka — Now that Kansas has expanded the right to carry guns both openly and concealed, officials are huddling to come up with signs that let people know what is allowed and where.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Wednesday convened a meeting of representatives of state and local governments, business interests and gun rights advocates who successfully pushed for firearms legislation.
"I have a vested interest in making sure the signage is appropriate," said Patricia Stoneking, president of the Kansas State Rifle Association.
The new law that takes effect July 1 bars cities and counties from regulating firearms and provides that the open carrying of guns is legal statewide.
But businesses, churches, schools and others still will be able to ban concealed and unconcealed guns from their premises if they post signs. The attorney general's office must say what goes on the signs.
Stoneking and others in the group brought together by Schmidt agreed that the simpler the signs, the better. "Our intent was never to have a half dozen signs," Stoneking said.
Generally, the group agreed that the current sign that prohibits concealed carry of guns — the red circle with a picture of a gun and a line drawn through it — should now be used to prohibit both concealed and open carry.
For a business that wants to allow concealed carry, but prohibit open carry, it will have to post a sign that reads "The open carrying of firearms is prohibited in this building."
The group agreed that putting those words within an octagon or Stop-sign shape might be more direct and easy to understand.
There was a lot of discussion about what kind of sign to use for businesses that want to allow open carry but not concealed carry. Stoneking said she doubted there would be many businesses in this category, but the group seemed to lean toward using the no concealed carry sign with verbiage on the sign that said open carry was allowed.
If there is no sign, then both open and concealed carry would be allowed.
Schmidt said he hoped to have regulations associated with the new law in place before July 1.
Comments
William Weissbeck 3 years, 3 months ago
Great god, our government has been reduced to a reenactment of the Mad Hatter's tea party.
Seth Peterson 3 years, 3 months ago
It's a good thing Kansas is a near Utopian State with absolutely zero problems that allows these individuals to have high school level crafts discussions, and allow it to be important enough to be job they put a rush on and have to finish asap.
I'd feel sad for Kansas if they had any problems with finances, civil liberties, social rights, poverty, etc, while having this be the focus and be the one thing that has to be completed in the next 32 days.
Scott Quenette 3 years, 3 months ago
How about "YEEHAW! plenty of people to shoot in here!"
Bob Smith 3 years, 3 months ago
How many businesses will want to allow one type of carry but not the other? It'd be much simpler to have a single sign such as the Texas 30.06 sign.
Paul Decelles 3 years, 3 months ago
How about a single sign at all the roads entering the state" "Kansas-enter at your own risk"
3 years, 3 months ago
Seems to me that people with guns in a building are gonna get shot first so stay clear of'em...
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