No guns allowed in many places; Kansas to issue concealed weapon licenses

By Michael Glover

Herald-Tribune

TOPEKA, Kan. --It's evident that this sign can mean only one thing: Don't bring a firearm in here.

Business owners must follow guidelines when making and displaying signs telling gun-carrying customers they're not welcome at their establishments once distribution of licenses begins under the new concealed carry law Jan. 1, 2007, according to the Kansas Attorney General's Office.

So far, more than 3,250 Kansans have applied for a concealed carry handgun license. The Attorney General receives, on average, about 40 new applications each working day. Of those, 2,604 have been approved.

Six Bourbon County residents have sent in applications, which must be processed by the sheriff's office.

Places where concealed weapons will not be allowed include libraries, courtrooms, government buildings, schools, bars, sporting events, places of worship and buildings that post the approved sign prohibiting weapons.

The sign and rules can be downloaded at the attorney general's Web site at http://www.ksag.org/Concealed_Weapon/Concealed_Carry_Update.htm.

Each sign should meet the following requirements:

* The size must be 8-inches by 8-inches, with the graphic at least 6 inches in diameter.

* The background must be white.

* The graphic of the handgun will be black, the graphic of the circle and diagonal slash across the handgun will be red.

* No text will be within the 1-inch area surrounding the graphic.

Also, the sign must be displayed so those entering the business will be likely see it, the attorney general's office said.

Kansas became one of 46 states with some form of law allowing concealed weapons when the law went into effect in July, but the first licenses will not be issued until January, according to the Kansas Attorney General's Office

Those issued a permit, must among other things, complete an 8-hour handgun safety and qualification class and provide fingerprints for a criminal background check. There are other restrictions on eligibility, based on psychiatric background.

Missouri enacted a concealed weapons law in 2003, rehashing some of the details relating to funding the permitting process, and a variety of signs with similar messages cropped up at municipal and government buildings, and at numerous businesses. Such signs in Missouri are subject to little regulation. Missouri law also limits eligibility based on criminal or psychological history, and has a similar permitting process for residents.