Wichita City Council allows concealed-carry in most city buildings

kansas.com ^ | 11 December, 2013 | Bill Wilson

[marktwain]

Wichita will open most of its public buildings – including libraries, recreational centers, CityArts and the Wichita Art Museum – to people carrying concealed guns under a new state law.

Fearful of lawsuits, the City Council voted 4-2 to allow concealed-carry in all but 16 of 107 city-owned buildings effective Jan. 1.

Guns will continue to be banned at City Hall, Mid-Continent Airport buildings, police buildings and city housing department facilities. In city buildings that are leased to third parties, such as the Wichita Boathouse, the operators retain the right to ban guns.

The state law, Senate Substitute for House Bill 2052, permits buildings to be exempted if they have proper postings and have adequate security measures. It became effective July 1.

(snip)

“Statistically, highly, highly trained professional law enforcement officers in the state of emergency hit their targets 30 to 50 percent of the time,” she said. “So what do we think Joe Schmo, who’s carrying a concealed weapon, how accurately do we think that person is going to fire their weapon? Yes, they have a right to protect themselves, but chances are greater they’ll hit something they don’t intend to hit in situations where there are children and families and other persons around. I think those rights are much greater than the individual to carry a gun.

“If they’re so worried about their public safety in a library and a rec center, man, don’t go there.”

Blubaugh was the most public supporter of peeling back the gun restrictions, saying he wants his wife and children – when they’re old enough – to be able to protect themselves.

[marktwain]

In the article, even though the carrying of arms is protected by both the Kansas and national Constitutions, a council member thinks that the carrying of arms is a "wrong":

[T-Bird45]

Even though I was born and raised in KS to age 17, I still find it to be confusing about such matters. In the realm of firearms, I’ve been very surprised about the number of private businesses that choose to put up the “gunbusters” sign that carries the force of law in KS. Here in OK, where the sign is rarely seen (no force of law here, trespass only), except for corporate situations like Buffalo Wild Wings, I’m quite often taken aback to see the sign on a small-town convenience/gas-station door in KS.

That said, the action by the KS legislature and the Wichita City Council is miles ahead of what is allowed in OK in city buildings. As to the council member’s attitude toward carry, I hope it gets a chunk of coal in its Christmas stocking.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Statistically, highly, highly trained professional law enforcement officers in the state of emergency hit their targets 30 to 50 percent of the time,” she said. “So what do we think Joe Schmo, who’s carrying a concealed weapon, how accurately do we think that person is going to fire their weapon? Yes, they have a right to protect themselves, but chances are greater they’ll hit something they don’t intend to hit in situations where there are children and families and other persons around."

Note that this dumbass does NOT give the actual statistics for "getting the target right". The REAL situation is that CCW holders are much MORE likely to pick and hit the correct target than cops.

The reason for that is that the cops come late to a situation and have to very quickly identify "who the bad guy is". A CCW holder is in a situation where he knows EXACTLY "who the bad guy is", since he is directly reacting to actions taken by the perp.

[Balding_Eagle]

Nor did he include whether or not those stats included shooting dogs.