Universities submit weapons policy drafts to Regents

  Thursday, October 13, 2016 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

A draft of a new weapons policy at Pittsburg State University is expected to go before the Governance Committee of the Kansas Board of Regents in November. The Regents asked each of the universities under its direction to submit draft policies that reflect changes in the state’s concealed carry statute in advance of its application to universities next July.

A statute enacted by the 2013 Kansas Legislature allows the concealed carry of handguns into public buildings, except those with adequate security measures at all public entrances. Universities were given a temporary exemption that ends on July 1, 2017.

Jamie Brooksher, PSU’s general counsel and a member of the taskforce that developed the policy, said the drafts that the six state universities have developed are very similar and are designed to bring the universities into compliance with the law.

Should the new policy be approved, only persons 21 and older will be allowed to carry a handgun and the gun must be concealed and in a holster that covers the trigger and must have the safety on. Open-carry is not permitted. There are no campus locations designated as gun-free zones with permanent security measures in place, although the university may designate specific locations as gun-free zones and use temporary security measures in those areas. Guns may be stored only in private vehicles or in an approved storage device in the owner’s on-campus residence.

The Board of Regents Governance Committee is expected to begin reviewing the draft policies as early as its October meeting and complete the review in November.

Read the draft policy, including the list of persons who by law are not allowed to carry a handgun.