TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has allowed a bill designed to keep concealed guns out of public hospitals and mental health centers to become law without his signature.

The governor acted Thursday and broke with gun-rights allies. The new law allows a permanent ban on concealed guns at state hospitals, other public hospitals, community mental health centers, publicly owned nursing homes and indigent clinics.

It also allows the University of Kansas Health System and the university’s medical school in Kansas City, Kansas, to ban concealed guns.

A 2013 state law required public buildings to allow concealed guns if those buildings lacked heightened security such as guards or metal detectors. Universities and public health facilities received a four-year exemption due to expire July 1.

The new exemption does not apply to universities.

 

TOPEKA -Thursday is the deadline for Governor Brownback to make a decision on an important gun law.

Earlier this month Kansas legislators approved a bill aimed at keeping concealed guns out of state hospitals and other public health facilities.

A 2013 law requires public health facilities to allow concealed guns into their buildings starts in July unless the buildings have security such as metal detectors or guards.

The bill on Brownback’s desk would grant a permanent exemption to state hospitals, other public hospitals, mental health centers, some nursing homes and the University of Kansas Health System and the university’s teaching hospital.  The bill would still allow concealed weapons to be carried on public college campuses in Kansas.

The Governor can sign the bill, veto it or let it pass.  Secretary of State Kris Kobach wants Brownback to veto the legislation.

Brownback is a strong gun-rights supporter and legislators are not sure whether he would sign or veto the measure.