Kansas House Passes Bill To Lower Conceal Carry Age To 18

People as young as 18 would be allowed to carry concealed weapons under a bill that has won passage in the Kansas House.

The 83-41 vote sends the bill to the Senate for approval. Opponents argued that the measure could endanger lives, but backers say it’s about having protection when the unexpected happens.

Kansas has what is called constitutional carry, or the right to carry a firearm in any capacity, for residents 21 and older. A concealed carry license, available to those who complete required training, allows the holder to carry in states that have reciprocal agreements with Kansas.

Under the new law, the minimum age for concealed carry training would drop to 18. Residents who don’t receive a license at 18 would still be allowed constitutional carry in the state at age 21.

Several lawmakers expressed concern, noting that the debate comes less than a month after bullets were fired at an elementary school in a Kansas City suburb in Missouri. Police later wounded a man across the street from the school as parents picked up their children. Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, D-of nearby Prairie Village, proposed an amendment limiting licensees to carrying 10 rounds of ammunition, saying it could reduce injury or death in the event of a shooting.

The amendment was found unrelated to the bill and was rejected.

Other opponents said they worried about weapons on college campuses. Until 2017, Kansas universities were exempt from a 2013 law allowing the carry of concealed weapons in public buildings. Democratic lawmakers staunchly opposed the law when it passed, and have been trying to repeal it ever since.

Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence used Tuesday’s debate to reopen the issue, offering an amendment prohibiting concealed carry on state campuses. But the amendment failed by a vote of 43 to 75.