Concealed Carry and Kansas Libraries

In response to questions from the State Library, the Kansas Attorney General’s office recently responded by stating the Personal and Family Protection Act (also known as the Conceal Carry bill) makes it a class A misdemeanor to carry a concealed weapon in “any public library operated by the State or by a political subdivision of the State” even if the person has a license to carry a concealed weapon. 2006 HB 2118, Sect. 7. “Weapon includes a handgun, pistol, or revolver.”

The Attorney General’s office also responded that a library is not required to post a sign. If a library employee becomes aware that a patron is carrying a weapon, he or she should feel comfortable calling the police or following the library’s procedure regarding the commission of crimes on library property.

Licenses will be issued after January 1, 2007. If the library wants to put up a sign reminding licensees that they can’t carry their weapons in the library, the library is free to do so. Part of the 8 hours training that licensees have to undergo before getting a license includes educating them regarding where they cannot carry a concealed weapon so licensees are on notice that libraries are off limits.

There are no regulations that the library has to follow regarding signage. It could be something as simple as a picture of a handgun with a big slash across it similar to the “no smoking” signs, or something like “It is a crime to carry a concealed handgun in this library even if you have a license to carry a concealed handgun.”

Determining the appearance of the signs will be up to each library.