What does campus carry mean?
According to legislation passed by the Kansas Legislature in 2013, state and municipal bodies cannot ban any legal gun owner from carrying concealed handguns on their campuses and public spaces, beginning in July 2017.
The 2015 Kansas Legislature amended the law to drop any requirements for firearm or permit training for carrying concealed weapons.
These moves are currently supported by the Kansas Board of Regents, who are legally charged with the safety of all Regents institutions.
Without new action from either of these bodies, guns will be permitted on all university property, including all these buildings:
- Dormitories
- Dining facilities
- Classrooms
- Laboratories
- Libraries
- Tutoring centers
- Test-taking locations
- Lecture halls
- Recreational facilities
- Student Union meeting rooms
- Counseling Services
- Sporting event venues (football stadium, basketball stadium, etc.)
- Faculty offices
What would it cost to keep concealed weapons out of campus buildings under this law?
The only locations where guns may be prohibited will be in buildings equipped with metal detectors and armed guards. If the campus closed many building entrances, keeping open only the minimum required by fire codes, the costs to equip buildings in order to prohibit guns are substantial.
The minimum number of building entrances on Kansas State University’s main campus is 1170
The minimum number of security guards to staff these entrances is 1755
The salary and equipment for these guards is estimated at $87,750,000
The cost for walk-through metal detectors for these entrances is estimated at $6,435,000
The minimum number of building entrances for the Veterinary Medicine school is 92
The minimum number of security guards to staff these entrances is 138
The salary and equipment for these guards is estimated at $6,900,000
The cost for walk-through metal detectors for these entrances is estimated at $759,000
The minimum number of athletics building entrances is 103
The minimum number of security guards to staff these entrances is 155
The salary and equipment for these guards is estimated at $7,750,000
The cost for walk-through metal detectors for these entrances is estimated at $825,000
The estimated cost for complying with this law while preventing guns in university buildings is $110,419,000. By comparison, the total support from the Kansas Legislature to Kansas State annually is roughly $160,000,000.
The military doesn’t allow weapons in barracks and classrooms. So, why should we?
Increased presence of firearms increases risk of suicide and accident.
Individuals who lack gun training are not equipped to respond to emergencies.
In active shooter emergencies, trained first responders are trained to shoot all individuals holding weapons.
Armed students make other students uncomfortable.
Armed students will stifle debate.
College campuses are no place for vigilante justice.
Outstanding faculty will leave the university.
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