As of Sat., July 1, people who are legally eligible to carry a concealed handgun in Kansas will be allowed to do so on Kansas College campuses, also. Other weapons, plus the open carrying of firearms, will continue to be banned from campus as in the past.

The law

Under a state law enacted in 2013, publicly-owned facilities other than K-12 public schools must allow concealed handguns in public spaces and buildings, unless entrances are equipped with “adequate security measures” — such as metal detectors and guards — to ensure that no one with a gun gets in.

State universities and many other public entities had a four-year exemption from that rule, and despite efforts to get their exemption extended or waived, universities are now being forced to comply with the law.

One part of the state’s concealed carry law that should seriously limit the amount of guns on campuses is that individuals are not eligible for concealed carry licenses until they turn 21 and an overwhelming majority of college students are under age 21. By Kansas law, Individuals are also not allowed to carry a concealed weapon if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or have a nonimmigrant visa. Most state universities has also have a substantial number of foreign students, attending school on a nonimmigrant visa. This further limits the amount of anticipated concealed carry on university campuses.

Using KU as an example, approximately 32% of Lawrence and Edwards campus students would be eligible for conceal carry. That’s because 59% of the students aren’t 21, and just more than 9% are international.

KU Policies

The Kansas Board of Regents updated its statewide policy to reflect the new law; but each university was allowed to create more specific policies for their respective campuses, but most of the policies approved by each campus appear almost the same.

Under KU’s policy, as summarized on the university website, guns must:

• Be under the constant control of the carrier.

• Be out of view, concealed either on the person of the carrier, or in a backpack, purse, or bag that remains under the constant control of the carrier.

• Be in a holster that covers the trigger area and secures any external hammer in an un-cocked position.

• Have the safety on, and have no round in the chamber.

Also,

• When stored in vehicles, guns must be hidden from view.

• If stored in residence halls when not in possession of the carrier, guns must be in secure storage devices. Outgoing KU Student Housing director Diana Robertson said the university would not provide storage devices; students must have their own. Of students living in KU campus housing, only 8% — fewer than 400 students — are old enough to carry concealed, according to KU. Few of those live in the residence halls. About 85 % — or 330 students — of campus residents who are 21 or older live in Jayhawker Towers apartments.

Exceptions

Guns won’t be allowed in football games at Memorial Stadium or men’s basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse. KU Athletics plans to deploy temporary security measures — metal detectors and guards — on game days for athletic events expected to draw more than 5,000 fans.

The university may put up temporary security measures for other special events on a case-by-case basis.

There are a number of restricted access areas on campus, which aren’t open to the public, where guns will continue to be prohibited. The university has not made public a list of those, citing campus security.

KU Medical Center and KU Hospital

Under a bill passed in June, publicly owned hospitals and other health care facilities can continue banning people from carrying concealed firearms after July 1. The KU Medical Center campus at 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, Kan. — which includes the KU Hospital — will continue to prohibit guns. Some KU Medical Center buildings off the main campus will begin allowing concealed carry, with rules like those at KU’s Lawrence campus.

WSU, K-State & Other Campuses

The policies detailed for these campuses are almost identical in wording and policy standards, to KU, however, neither WSU or K-State committed to a full-restriction of guns at their larger sports venues. Both indicate they may “temporarily” designate a specific location as temporarily gun-free, if the university provides “adequate security measures.” As an examples, both cited athletics and commencements as potential times/places where they might “temporarily” restrict guns.

We didn’t research specifics for other campus but all state universities, community colleges and private colleges must apply with the new law.