06/06/17
HAYS, Kan. -- Concealed carry of handguns will become legal on the campus of Fort Hays State University on July 1, when an exemption granted to Kansas Board of Regents institutions expires.

In 2013, the Kansas Legislature passed a law allowing lawful gun owners to carry concealed handguns on all public university campuses and in public campus buildings in Kansas. Universities were provided a four-year exemption, which expires on July 1, 2017. In order to comply with the state law (known as the Personal and Family Protection Act), the Kansas Board of Regents approved new weapons policies for all Regents institutions in December of 2016.

Fort Hays State's approved weapons policy was developed with the cooperation of a weapons task force comprised of faculty, student and staff representatives. This policy complies with current state law.

In summary, the policy and the law provides that individuals who are at least 21 years of age and who are not prohibited by law (for instance, for prior felonies) may carry a concealed handgun on campus and in campus buildings.

The policy requires that the weapon must be concealed at all times (unless transferring to storage). The weapon must be holstered with chamber empty and the safety engaged, for semiautomatics, or with the hammer resting on an empty cylinder for revolvers. Handguns may be stored on campus in an individual's personal residence or in their private locked vehicle. Individuals must provide their own storage devices.

The policy also specifies requirements for approved storage devices and holsters.

Fort Hays State's policy can be downloaded in a pdf through the Gun Policy link on the page at www.fhsu.edu/policies/administrative/.

The policy of the Kansas Board of Regents is at tinyurl.com/y7wp6b86.