Kansas House advances bill lowering age for concealed weapons to 18

The Kansas House voted to adopt legislation Friday lowering the minimum age for carrying concealed weapons to 18 and mandating only people with a permit could legally bringing hidden firearms onto state university and college campuses.

The bill sent to the Senate on a vote of 76-44 included a requirement Kansas begin recognizing conceal-carry licenses and permits issued by other states. The reciprocity provision applies only to handguns and was endorsed by Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Amendments to House Bill 2042 reducing the conceal-carry age limit from 21 and adding the permit provision for carrying on campus were work of the Republican-led House.

During debate Thursday, the House rejected an amendment by Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, to grant college and university officials authority to ban concealed weapons from campus. State law says universities and colleges can forbid concealed weapons only in buildings with airport-style security, including guards and metal detectors.

Read more: http://www.cjonline.com/news/20180202/kansas-house-advances-bill-lowering-age-for-concealed-weapons-to-18