Kansas University faculty, staff and students are forming their own committee to address the issue of concealed guns coming to KU’s campus.

University Senate leaders said their hope was that an ad hoc weapons committee would mobilize lobbying against a state law that will allow concealed weapons on campus beginning in 2017 in hopes of getting it changed or extending KU’s exemption. Acknowledging that changing the law would be challenging, the committee also will be tasked with communicating and establishing protocols to make campus as safe as possible.

No guns signs are posted on a side door of KU's Art and Design Building, as well as other buildings on campus, pictured in May 2015.

“We need to develop some ways to inform our colleagues and peers about what to do when this comes to pass, if it comes to pass,” said Michael Williams, incoming KU University Senate president and an associate professor of journalism. “We are not blindly accepting this.”

KU administration and the Kansas Board of Regents told the Journal-World last week they are considering how to implement the new law, but neither shared plans. For now, KU has no-guns-allowed signs on its buildings.

Gov. Sam Brownback signed a law in 2012 allowing concealed-carry permit holders to take guns in public buildings that don’t have certain security measures, such as metal detectors and trained guards. Universities and many other public entities got a four-year exemption.

As of July 1 this year, under another law signed this spring, Kansans no longer need permits to carry concealed weapons.

The weapons committee will be composed of three faculty, three staff and three student members, the University Senate Executive Committee agreed Wednesday.