TOPEKA—A new Kansas gun law takes effect on July 1.
The legislation signed by Governor Sam Brownback nullifies city and county gun restrictions.
It also ensures that it’s legal across the state to openly carry firearms.
The men and women who enforce the laws in Kansas have different opinions on the new law. However, they know their job is not to question but to enforce the law.
Police officers are obviously human and by virtue of that we have opinions,” said Officer Matt Droge with the Riley County Police Department
“In my opinion,” said Droge. “One aspect of professionalism is not allowing your personal opinions to cloud the judgments you make as a police officer. Whether an officer is personally for or against a certain law (and not just gun laws, I’m talking any law in general), they have an obligation to the community to execute their duties in a professional manner, and do so with integrity. We enforce laws that society has democratically deemed necessary and I am proud of our department’s overall candor on this front.
When it comes down to it, it’s really about community members, who choose to legally own a gun, being responsible about it. To my knowledge there are no major changes in the way we conduct business. We follow laws and laws change, this concept is nothing new and our officers as part of their employment receive regular legal updates.”
Supporters of the bill say a patchwork of local regulations has infringed on gun-ownership rights.
“Every year changes are made to laws. Our job is to enforce them,” said Salina Police Captain Sweeney. “I think the intent of this law was to make the gun laws similar in all counties so that it is easier for the public. If we see any issues we will report it but our local ordinance was similar to what the state has in place.”
The bill would sweep away local restrictions on open carry, though cities and counties could prevent people from doing so in public buildings.
“The new law will allow you to walk into any business, unless they have a sign prohibiting it, and you can carry a gun, said Great Bend Police Chief Dean Akings. “As long as you have a permit, you will also be able to carry a gun into our municipal court.”
I do like that the law allows for stronger penalties if you have a gun in your vehicle and are caught with the drugs or alcohol,” he said.
And while we’ve never had enough guns to participate,” said Akings. “Larger cities no longer will be able to use tax dollars for gun buy back programs.”
Jim Daily has worked in law enforcement since 1973. He’s been a county sheriff and in 2001 was hired as Chief of Police in his hometown of Newton.
“Our community simply won’t have the ability to pass new laws to regulate guns, said Daily. “We haven’t had any problems with open carry here but others have had some problems.”
Daily was also concerned what a police officer would do when they see someone carrying a gun out in the open. “It is our responsibility to determine whether that individual has the right to carry the firearm,’ he said.
It’s an encounter that creates another challenge for law enforcement officers.