WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- State and municipal employees in Kansas will be able to conceal and carry weapons on the job starting Friday.
The measure is one of many newly passed laws that take effect July 1, The Wichita Eagle reports. Other measures reduce the amount of the time someone can receive welfare benefits and a ban on under-18s using tanning beds.
Under the concealed weapon law, public employees won't need gun safety training to carry on the job. Supporters say the law will allow public employees, such as city code inspectors, to protect themselves on the job. Opponents say it violates the personal property rights of homeowners and presents safety risks.
Republican Sen. Forrest Knox, the legislation's main proponent, said "we should trust our public employees."
Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, a Wichita Democrat who has sparred repeatedly with Knox on the issue, said Knox underestimates citizens' concerns and that she has heard from multiple constituents about the policy.
"People are already talking about it. They will know. They do know. They're reading the newspaper and watching the news," she said.
Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell said it remains to be seen how many city employees will take advantage of the right to carry law or to what extent the city can regulate employees' firearm use. He said city officials would reassess the situation soon.
The law will also restrict school districts from banning air gun shooting clubs from their campuses solely because the activities use air guns. Rep. Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, pushed for that portion of the legislation, which is meant to resolve a dispute in the Derby school district, where a shooting club was pushed off campus last year over safety concerns.
