Kansas governor allows concealed carry bill to become law
TOPEKA, Kan. — Public hospitals, mental health centres and other health facilities in Kansas can ban concealed guns without expensive security upgrades after Republican Gov. Sam Brownback allowed a bill to become law Thursday without his signature.
Brownback has been a strong gun-rights advocate but broke with the National Rifle Association and its state allies, which wanted less sweeping changes in the state’s concealed carry laws. But the conservative governor also faced strong pressure from hospitals and the University of Kansas Health System.
The governor’s struggle with the bill was evident in the message he sent lawmakers. He criticized the bill for restricting gun-owners’ rights at public health facilities, forcing them “to subject themselves to greater risk while giving up their right to protect themselves.” Yet, he added that it addressed safety concerns at state mental hospitals.
“Because I support the effort to provide state mental hospitals authority to restrict concealed carry in certain facilities, I will not exercise my constitutional authority to veto this bill,” Brownback wrote in his message.