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Kansas Open Carry Law

marine0300

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2008
Messages
367
Location
Topeka, Kansas, USA
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mpdog42 wrote:
Hi, being new here to kansas.i checked out this forum, regarding open carry in Topeka,I seen there is a great debate over is it legal or not.I have ask three people about this here in topeka



(1)My CCL class instructor: NO OPEN CARRY IN TOPEKA:cuss:

(2) A Topeka Police officer at Kwik Mart :NO OPEN CARRY IN TOPEKA:cuss:

(3)The Owner of one of our Best Gun Stores: NO OPEN CARRY IN TOPEKA:cuss:

so if you want to strap on your 45 and walk through Downtown Go ahead, :banghead:

To me is better, just to get The CCL and avoid the whole hassle:D

Take Care!

mpdog42,

Below is the actual city code for Topeka dealing with weapons. Please show me where its says a citizen can’t open carry?



ARTICLE IV. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY*
__________ *State law references: Crimes against the public safety, K.S.A. 21-4201 et seq.
__________

DIVISION 1. GENERALLY Secs. 54-88--54-100. Reserved.
DIVISION 2. WEAPONS
Sec. 54-101. Reserved. Editor's note: Ord. No. 18821, § 12, adopted Feb. 20, 2007, repealed § 54-101 in its entirety. Formerly, said section pertained to carrying of deadly weapons as enacted by Code 1981, § 15-91; as amended.
Sec. 54-102. Discharging of firearms. (a)It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer in the performance of duty, to discharge any cannon, gun, pistol, rifle or other firearm, or to discharge or use any spring gun or slingshot within the corporate limits of this city except discharge of blank rounds as part of a ceremonial event for which prior written notice has been provided to the chief of police. (b)Discharge of paintball guns. It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer in the performance of duty, to discharge any paintball gun within the corporate limits of this city, except at a properly licensed paintball business in accordance with all of the paintball business's rules and regulations. (c)Discharge of airguns. It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer in the performance of duty, to discharge any airgun within the corporate limits of this city unless they have obtained and maintain a valid permit as provided herein. (d)Permits for discharge of BB/pellet guns. Upon the written application made at least two (2) weeks before the proposed event, in a form acceptable to the chief of police and the payment of an application fee of fifty dollars ($50.00), the chief of police may issue a permit to discharge airguns on specified premises in the city for the purposes of allowing the establishment of shooting ranges. No permit shall be issued unless the proposed activity is found to be in compliance with administrative regulations established by the chief of police and approved by City Council resolution, for the purpose of regulating the discharge of airguns as provided herein. Further, any permit so issued shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the chief of police determines reasonably necessary or advisable to protect the safety of the participants therein and the general public, including, but not limited to the following: (1)The applicant shall provide proof of public liability insurance for the permitted activity with a minimum single occurrence coverage of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00). The policy shall name the City of Topeka as an additional insured. (2)The applicant shall provide written proof that the location of the proposed activity is zoned appropriately and that the activity is permitted by the owner of the property. (3)The applicant shall provide a description of activity safeguards that are intended and designed to minimize the exposure to members of the public or adjoining properties from the activity. (4)The applicant shall provide proof of adequate training and supervision of the activity by qualified persons over the age of eighteen (18). Any permit so issued shall be valid for no more than two (2) weeks, but may be revoked at any time by the chief of police upon the failure of the permittee to abide by any of the permit regulations, terms and conditions. No person or organization shall be issued a permit more than once each quarter of each calendar year. (e)Definitions. For the purposes of this article the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings hereinafter ascribed to them: (1)Airgun. Shall mean an instrumentality designed for and used to fire or eject one or more projectiles by means of a spring or by compressed air or other gas or vapor. The term, airgun, shall not include instrumentalities designed and intended to fire or eject a projectile under water in conjunction with scuba diving, instrumentalities designed and intended to fire or eject a fastener as part of the construction trades or children's toys; an airgun of the type commonly referred to as a BB gun is not a children's toy for the purposes of this subsection; (2)Chief of Police. Shall mean the Chief of the Topeka Police Department or his or her designee. (3)Firearm. Shall mean an instrumentality designed for and intended to fire or eject one or more projectiles by means of an explosive charge or by the ignition of one or more flammable or explosive substances. The term, firearm, shall include those instrumentalities commonly referred to as rifles, shotguns, revolvers, handguns and pistols, but shall not include instrumentalities designed and intended to fire or eject a fastener as part of the construction trades; (4)Law enforcement officer includes any federal, state, county or city employee who is empowered to effect an arrest with or without a warrant and who is authorized to carry a firearm as part of such employment, regardless of whether they are on of off duty, any law enforcement officer as defined in K.S.A. 12-4113(i) and amendments thereto, K.S.A. 21-3110(10) and amendments thereto, K.S.A. 22-2202(13) and amendments thereto, K.S.A. 74-5602(e) and amendments thereto, or any member of the Topeka Police Department Reserves or the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office Reserves. (5)Paintball gun. Shall mean an airgun designed and used to fire or eject a hollow, plastic-like frangible pellet containing nontoxic, paint-like marking fluid. (Code 1981, § 15-92; Ord. No. 18253, § 1, 5-25-04; Ord. No. 18291, § 1, 7-20-04) State law references: Unlawful discharge of firearm, K.S.A. 21-4217.
Sec. 54-103. Reserved. Editor's note: Ord. No. 18821, § 13, adopted Feb. 20, 2007, repealed § 54-103 in its entirety. Formerly, said section pertained to drawing a weapon upon another as enacted by Code 1981, § 15-93.
Sec. 54-104. Replica or facsimile firearms. (a)Definitions. As used in this section: Replica or facsimile means "imitation firearm," as defined in K.S.A. 12-16,115, and means a replica of a firearm which is so substantially similar in physical properties to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm. The term "imitation firearm" does not include: (1)A nonfiring collector's replica of an antique firearm which was designed prior to 1898, is historically significant and is offered for sale in conjunction with a wall plaque or presentation case; (2)A nonfiring collector's replica of a firearm which was designed after 1898, is historically significant, was issued as a commemorative by a nonprofit organization and is offered for sale in conjunction with a wall plaque or presentation case; or (3)A pneumatic, spring, spring-air or compressed-gas powered nonpowdered gun that is commonly called an air gun and is designed to discharge BBs, pellets or paint balls. (b)It shall be unlawful for any person to draw, exhibit or brandish a replica or facsimile of a firearm in a rude, insolent, threatening or angry manner with the intent to frighten, vex, harass or annoy any other person. (c)It shall be unlawful for any person to draw, exhibit or brandish a replica or facsimile of a firearm in the presence of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency technician or paramedic engaged in the performance of his duties. (d)Any replica or facsimile of a firearm used by any person in a rude, insolent, threatening or angry manner shall be seized and forfeited to the city. (e)Any person convicted of violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $150.00. (Code 1981, § 15-93.1)
Sec. 54-105. Furnishing weapons to minors. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, give, loan or otherwise furnish any pistol or revolver by which a cartridge may be exploded, or any dirk, Bowie knife, knucks, slingshot or other dangerous weapons to any minor. (Code 1981, § 15-94) State law references: Unlawful disposal of firearms, K.S.A. 21-4203.
Sec. 54-106. Unlawful use of stun guns, tear gas, mace. It shall be unlawful for any person not a police officer in the execution of duty, to discharge items commonly known as stun guns, tear gas, mace or any other chemical substance against any individual within the corporate limits of the city, except in defense of his person against an aggressor when and to the extent it appears to him and he reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or another against such aggressor's imminent use of unlawful force, or in defense of his dwelling when and to the extent that it appears to him and he reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to prevent or terminate such other's unlawful entry into or attack upon his dwelling. The preceding exceptions are not available to a person who: (1)Is attempting to commit, is committing, or is escaping from the commission of, a forcible felony; (2)Initially provokes the use of force against himself or another, with intent to use such force as an excuse to inflict bodily harm upon the assailant; or (3)Otherwise initially provokes the use of force against himself or another, unless: a.The person has reasonable grounds to believe that he is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm, and he has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or b.In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force. (Ord. No. 16547, § 1(15-95), 2-2-93) Secs. 54-107--54-110. Reserved.
DIVISION 3. MASKS, VESTS AND BODY ARMOR
Sec. 54-111. Wearing of gas masks, bulletproof vests, improvised body armor or masks or devices to conceal one's identity during unlawful activities prohibited. (a)It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, possess or wear any of the following devices during parades, demonstrations, rallies and assemblies: (1)A gas mask or similar device designed to filter all air breathed and that would protect the respiratory tract and face against chemical irritants commonly deployed by law enforcement; (2)A bulletproof vest, or other improvised body armor. For the purposes of this section, the term "bulletproof vest" means a bullet-resistant body armor providing, as a minimum standard, the level of protection known as "threat level I," which shall mean at least seven layers of bullet-resistant material providing protection from three shots of 158-grain lead ammunition fired from a .38 caliber handgun at a velocity of 850 feet per second, and "Improvised body armor" is any gear or attire, made of any material, which is not normal wearing apparel and worn for the purpose of defeating law enforcement tactics to control an unruly person; (3)A mask or other device with the specific intent to hide one's identity during the commission of unlawful activity or with the specific intent to intimidate or threaten another person. (b)The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to any federal, state or city law enforcement officer performing their official duties. (Ord. No. 18234, § 2, 5-11-04) Secs. 54-112--54-120. Reserved.
 

mpdog42

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Aug 20, 2009
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hey, the only thing i can say is that i have tryed to make a honest case for my opinion and its up to the readers to make up there minds how/and if they are going to do so,i do recomend writing to the City Attorney and asking him/her in writing what they law is that way you have a actual letter you can copy and show the police.

Be smart and stay safe

mpdog42
 
K

KansasScout

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From earlier posts about his experience in actually doing an open carry with a confrontation with the Topeka PD, Earl knows what he is talking about. This is not debatableor a grey area. You have the right to open carry in Topeka, period.

Earl had the guts to go find out by actual experience. He prepared well and the outcome was OK.
 

Pinhead

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marine0300 wrote:
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-statutes/getStatute.do12-16,124. Firearms and ammunition; regulation by city or county, limitations.

(a) No city or county shall adopt any ordinance, resolution or regulation, and no agent of any city or county shall take any administrative action, governing the purchase, transfer, ownership, storage or transporting of firearms or ammunition, or any component or combination thereof. Except as provided in subsection (b) and subsection (a) of K.S.A. 2007 Supp. 75-7c11, and amendments thereto, any such ordinance, resolution or regulation adopted prior to the effective date of this 2007 act shall be null and void.
Take special note to the underlined and then bolded points. Doesn't this mean that cities/counties can't ban open transport within vehicles? In other words, this specifically states that, IMO, municipalities can't require us to keep our guns "unloaded and encased in a container which completely encloses the firearm," as cities like Shawnee KS do? It seems that the cities are overstepping their boundaries in this regard.

I suppose the catch would be subsection (b) and (a) of K.S.A.
2007 Supp. 75-7c11. Where are these so that they can be analyzed?

EDIT: Disregard my post; I missed this part:
(b) nothing in this section shall:

(4) prohibit a city or county from adopting an ordinance, resolution or regulation requiring a firearm transported in any air, land or water vehicle to be unloaded and encased in a container which completely encloses the firearm or any less restrictive provision governing the transporting of firearms, provided such ordinance, resolution or regulation shall not apply to persons licensed under the personal and family protection act.
 
K

KansasScout

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Except as provided in subsection (b) and subsection (a) of K.S.A. 2007 Supp. 75-7c11,


Then you have to know what this next part of the sentence and paragraph means and what it refers to.
 

sha-ul

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Jun 3, 2009
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96
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Kansas
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Riddle me this, if the state constitution states that you have the right to bear arms, how can a municipality supersede this?
for example, the state constitution says you have the right to be secure in your house against unreasonable search& seizure, can a city then pass an ordinance stating you must provide a key to you house to the city cops?
 

marine0300

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Nov 14, 2008
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Topeka, Kansas, USA
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I totally agree with you. If you feel so strongly about this take legal action against any city in KS that violatesyour rights.

We understand what your saying but what is your solution?
 

sha-ul

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Kansas
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marine0300 wrote:
I totally agree with you. If you feel so strongly about this take legal action against any city in KS that violatesyour rights.

We understand what your saying but what is your solution?
what do we have to do to challenge this? do we have any oc friendly attorneys in Ks, or Wichita specifically?
the state constitution specifically says that we have the right to bear arms for defense& security, the constitution to my reading does not give cities the power to regulate firearms. to my reading the city of wichita does not have a legal leg to stand on. but how do we prove this?
 

Pinhead

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I thought I read somewhere that Wichita now allows for open carry...
 
K

KansasScout

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I have just recently become confused about carry in a vehicle in open carry jurisdictions. Is it OK to have a loaded pistol in a car openly displayed? Does the state mandate unloaded and cased or simply say that there is no law against carrying in that manner?

Honestly, I carry concealed in my car all the time and am wondering if I should just find a way to have it out in the open from now on? I know people who have done this in years past and been fine.

What do you guys do?

When I say concealed in a car, it's in my Boyt canvas case but loaded and ready.
 

Mike

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May 13, 2006
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Location
Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
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KansasScout wrote:
I have just recently become confused about carry in a vehicle in open carry jurisdictions. Is it OK to have a loaded pistol in a car openly displayed? Does the state mandate unloaded and cased or simply say that there is no law against carrying in that manner?

Honestly, I carry concealed in my car all the time and am wondering if I should just find a way to have it out in the open from now on? I know people who have done this in years past and been fine.

What do you guys do?

When I say concealed in a car, it's in my Boyt canvas case but loaded and ready.

The way we understand it, Kansas state law does not criminalize open carry but local law might; however, Kansas state law does preempt localities as to open carry bans in vheicle if and only if you hold the Kansas prmit to conceal.

So yes if you hold the permit to conceal you may open caryin vehicles.

You guys need to work on full preemption of localities asap.
 

C-dub

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Dec 21, 2009
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, Texas, USA
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As far as open carry in vehicles goes, doesn't the preemption also apply to resident licensees of other states that Kansas recognizes? For example, I'm a Texas resident with a Texas CHL. Wouldn't I be able to legally OC in my vehicle despite local ordinances against OC?
 
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