A bill that would allow for the legal age to conceal carry a firearm in Kansas be lowered from 21 to 18, has won final approval from the Kansas House.
A key provision specifies a valid license or permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by another jurisdiction would be recognized in Kansas, even if the license or permit holder is from out of state. While he supported the bill, 67th District Rep. Mike Dodson (R-Manhattan) says it is not without flaws because already by state statute, Kansas allows 18, 19 and 20 year olds to legally carry an unconcealed weapon.
“At least what happens here is now they have to be licensed, they have to go through training. I just don’t like to see everybody with guns. This has to be sorted out by the Senate as well and it may be that we have to get help from the Supreme Court on this one,” he said.
Kansas statute does not allow anyone under 21 to purchase firearms with a barrel less than 12 inches.
The House rejected amendments from Democrats wanting to allow universities to decide whether to allow concealed carry on campuses and ban concealed weapons in the Statehouse. 66th District Rep. Sydney Carlin (D-Manhattan) provided testimony during a hearing on the bill Wednesday.
“I don’t feel that my carrying a gun if I’m a student is going to make me safe in a classroom where there might be a shooter. I know that we’ve lost faculty members (at K-State) because of concealed carry. They just didn’t want to find out. They went somewhere else,” she said.
The measure would require those under 21 to complete a background check and complete safety training before they would be allowed to carry a concealed handgun, which is currently required for those 21 and older.
The bill passed by an 85-38 margin and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
