Beginning July 1, all public employees in Kansas will be able to conceal and carry while on the clock. The change will allow for employees to carry while in a vehicle or out in the community on business.
That includes more than 2,000 employees in Wyandotte County.
KCK Mayor Mark Holland has concerns.
“It is pretty sweeping in its implementation,” he said. "We don’t let an employee drive one of our vehicles without having adequate training. We don’t let our employees answer the phones without adequate training. But now we can let them carry a gun, with no training at all?”
Some residents echoed Holland. Taylor Ambler is a mother who believes more guns equals more trouble.
“I believe when you’re on the job, you do not need to be carrying a weapon. You may have to encounter children, and if you have no training? You should not be carrying a weapon at work or anywhere else,” Ambler said.
Others feel the opposite. Leanna Adams is a state employee who is for the new law.
“I think it’s a great idea, I really do. Because I think it would be a more secure environment if we had more people on the scene who did conceal and carry,” Adams said.
The implementation of this law raises another question for leaders like Holland: Are Kansas cities losing local control?
"This is the first time in the statehood of Kansas that the cities have not had the ability to regulate guns within the city limit,” Holland explained. "Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka are different than Colby, Platte and Concordia, Kansas, and what rules are helpful for them, they need to be able to decide, and what is helpful for us, we need to be able to decide as well.”
The UG commissioners are discussing this topic at Thursday’s meeting.
Holland said though many are not supportive of the change, the UG will do what it needs to do to comply with state law.
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Lexi Sutter can be reached at lexi.sutter@kshb.com.
