The Kansas Senate and House voted Thursday to allow public health care facilities to continue banning concealed weapons. The 24-16 Senate vote and 91-33 House vote send the bill to Gov. Sam Brownback for consideration.
A state law taking effect July 1 will allow people to carry concealed guns into any public building that is not secured by armed guards and metal detectors.
During debate, Republican Sen. Carolyn McGinn said it doesn’t make sense to allow guns in places like state psychiatric hospitals.
“These are individuals who are severely ill. They could take a gun away from an employee, and then we have a problem,” McGinn said.
The bill also would exempt public hospitals and the University of Kansas Health System, including KU Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning said allowing guns at the KU Health System would make it harder to attract staff. He said it also would be difficult to install security at the facility so the hospital could continue barring guns.
“Just think of the TSA when you fly. Ten thousand humans walk through the KU door every day,” Denning said. “It makes no sense from just a practical matter.”
Critics of the bill said if security isn’t in place to bar all guns, law-abiding citizens should be able to carry a weapon for self-defense.
“You’re just taking away the right for someone to protect themselves legally in these facilities,” said Republican Sen. Rob Olson, who added that a gun ban won’t stop people who are intent on breaking the rule.
“The only people we’re empowering here are the people who are going to do bad things,” he said.
Reporters asked Brownback before Thursday’s debate if he would veto or sign the bill.
“I’m not going to articulate anything. I’m going to watch the debate. It’s an important one,” the governor said.
Senate President Susan Wagle offered an amendment backed by the National Rifle Association that would have narrowed the bill to only bar guns in some areas of mental facilities and the KU hospital. She said narrowing the bill would mean a likely signature from the governor.
“This is the best solution that we can come to that protects the Second Amendment rights that we have already enacted in the state of Kansas and yet gives flexibility,” Wagle said.
The chamber rejected Wagle’s amendment. Threats of a veto didn’t sway some lawmakers who want a wider exemption, including Republican Sen. Barbara Bollier.
“I refuse to be held hostage to the governor’s pen, and thus will be voting no,” Bollier said.
Kwanequa Jones is a Washburn University graduate who was at the Statehouse for a rally. She wanted lawmakers to expand the firearm discussion to include an exemption for universities, so those buildings could continue barring guns after this summer.
“I am happy they are working on not allowing guns in medical facilities,” Jones said. “I think guns not being allowed in all facilities would be great.”
Even lawmakers who want to exempt universities from the concealed carry law decided not to pursue it as part of the bill. They were concerned adding an exemption for universities would garner a veto from the governor and mean losing the health care facility exemption as well.
Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio, a partner in the Kansas News Service, kcur.org.
See more at http://kcur.org/post/kansas-legislators-ok-gun-law-exemption-public-hospitals-will-brownback-veto.
Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 85, the National Weather Service said.
The chance of precipitation for today was small, around 15 percent, according to weather service information.
A slight, 20 percent, chance of thunderstorms is in the forecast for Saturday, according to the weather service.
Any storms over the weekend are not expected to be severe, the weather service added.
In today’s Wyandotte County forecast, the warm weather will be accompanied by a calm wind, that changes to south 5 to 9 mph in the morning, the weather service said.
Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 66, according to the weather service, and a south southeast wind of 5 to 8 mph.
Saturday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., the weather service said. It will be mostly sunny with a high near 85 and a south wind of 6 mph.
Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 67, according to the weather service. A south wind around 5 mph will become calm in the evening.
Sunday, the high will be near 86 with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said, and a light and variable wind.
Sunday night, the low will be around 65 with mostly clear skies, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be sunny with a high near 65, the weather service said.
Monday night, expect a low of 62 with mostly clear skies, according to the weather service.
by Mary Rupert
Downtown Kansas City, Kansas, is preparing for the Latino Arts Festival on Saturday, June 3.
Chuck Schlittler, executive director of the Downtown Shareholders, said a free festival and parade will be held Saturday. The parade begins at noon at 4th and Minnesota Avenue.
The festival is a joint effort of the Downtown Shareholders, Hallmark, the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce, El Centro, H.E.A.R.T., the Bank of Labor and others, he said.
For the festival, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, the 700 block of Minnesota will be blocked off to 8th Street, he said.
Two bands will perform, he said, and there will be food from two vendors available for purchase.
Low-rider vehicles will be on display at a car show, with a car hopping contest at 5:30 p.m.
There also will be several Latino visual artists with displays in the KCK Chamber building, he said. In addition, the festival will have a children’s area.
A parade will begin at noon at 4th and Minnesota and travel to 12th and Minnesota, he said. Joe Ray, known as “Mr. Low Rider,” will be in the parade, he said.
The parade will feature public officials, plus about 40 low-rider vehicles and a former Miss Kansas, Schlittler said.
Sandra Olivas, vice president of the Bank of Labor, will be the emcee for the parade and festival.
Minnesota Avenue will be closed for the parade. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1401287576610495/.
