+
KANSAN.COM
NEWS
+
What you should know: KU's concealed carry conversation
MCKENNA HARFORD
@McKennaHarford
The Weapons on Campus Committee, a committee within the University Senate that is made up of faculty, staff and students, was formed at the beginning of the semester to address Kansas laws that will allow for concealed carry weapons on campus beginning July 1,2017.
Michael Williams, University Senate president and a member of the committee, said the goal of the session is to help get everyone on the same page and receive feedback from the community.
The University is currently working with the Kansas Board of Regents, other state schools and the University community to address the issue, Williams said.
The session will be live streamed, and students, staff and faculty can email questions if they are logged in to their KU accounts. Anyone can also follow along with the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #kugunsinfo.
Here what you need to know ahead of the forum on Tuesday:
Summary of the laws and policies:
In 2012, the Kansas Legislature passed the Personal and Family Protection Act, which allowed for the concealed carry of weapons in public buildings unless the building has temporary exemptions or adequate security measures, like metal detectors and security officers.
A 2015 amendment to the law allows anyone over 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a license. Forty-two percent of undergraduates and almost 100 percent of graduate students are 21 or older.
In an effort to receive feedback and get members of the University community on the same page, the weapons on campus committee will host an information session on Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Budig 120 to discuss concealed carry on campus.
The University has a temporary exemption from the law, but the exemption expires on July 1, 2017.
After the exemption expires, all persons over 21 will legally be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus, unless the buildings have security measures to keep guns from entering the building.
The Kansas Board of Regents has drafted amendments to its weapons policy, which allows for concealed carry on campus in accordance with the law, said Breeze Richardson, director of communication for the Regents. The drafted amendments also suggest that universities offer gun storage on campus.
Open carry of weapons is still illegal on campus and in public buildings.
Who's doing what?
"So the idea that you would see a gun on campus is a myth," Richardson said. "The idea that someone would slap a gun down in the middle of discussion and use it as a tool of intimidation would immediately be a violation of University policy."
Student Senate and University Senate have issued gun surveys to gauge the University community's thoughts on concealed carry on campus. The Board of Regents has drafted amendments to the weapons policy.
The University has performed building assessments on campus. It found it would cost roughly $20 million to secure all 237 buildings on campus, according to a report the University gave to the Board of Regents. However, the University is considering security measures for sports arenas, like Memorial Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse, Williams said.
The Weapons on Campus Committee is holding an open forum on Tuesday to discuss and inform the University community.
"A lot of what we are doing this fall is to raise awareness and get the feedback of the University. ... We want to make sure that all of the rational voices are heard. We're not going to debate the second amendment. Our primary charge is to find a way to maintain a safe and secure learning environment."
MICHAEL WILLIAMS University Senate President (Aug. 2015)
Concealed carry on campuses across the U.S
April 2013: Legislation enacted.
November 2014: University gives report to Kansas Board of Regents stating that it would cost about $20 million to secure all 237 buildings on campus.
August 2015: University Senate creates the Weapons on Campus Committee.
September 2015: Student Senate emails a survey on guns to students.
October 2015: Kansas Board of Regents drafts amendments to its weapons policy to accommodate the upcoming change in the law.
December 2015: Williams said the University Senate sent a survey on guns to University employees.
December 2015: The Weapons on Campus Committee will hold its open forum.
December 2015: Richardson said the Regents would discuss proposed amendments to weapons policy at its December meeting.
January 2016: Richardson said she expects the Regents to vote on whether to adopt amendments in its January meeting.
July 2017: The law's exemption expires.
Edited by Derek Skillett