Kansas State Capitol Now Allows Concealed Guns

A Kansas bill allowing concealed carry permit holders inside public buildings such as the State Capitol went into effect yesterday.

According to WIBW, the new law has effected the way Capitol Police patrol the statehouse.

“You know, up until today, the only people that were allowed to carry up to this point, concealed, were our representatives,” says Capitol Police Officer Stephen Crumpler.

Now, visitors must show their concealed carry license when they pass through security at the building.

“And their validity of their license, as long as everything is valid and good, we give them back their credentials and they are free to go about the building with their concealed carry weapon,” says Crumpler.

As WIBW reports, Attorney General Derek Schmidt has developed new signs concerning concealed carry and open carry, which is forbidden inside the Capitol but legal statewide. The signs are designed to tell visitors where weapons can be taken inside public and private buildings.

“The sign with a gun and a red line slashed through it bans all weapons in the building,” WIBW said. “This red octagon sign with writing inside sign means open carry is banned but concealed carry is allowed. If there are no signs it means people with concealed carry permits or people carrying weapons not concealed may be inside.”

Crumpler says that visitors in the Capitol building will be safe.

“Everybody who is in the building is going to be kept safe, and there shouldn’t be any difference whatsoever,” says Crumpler.