The signs stating exemption from concealed-carry legislation were taped onto campus buildings in late July. The legislation was passed last spring by Kansas state legislatures and allows licensed carriers to take their weapon into public buildings. This includes the campuses of public Kansas universities.

The bill puts the burden of public safety on the state and local government agencies if they want to remain gun free, meaning security improvements specified in the bill.

“I think it’s a question of balance and what’s really affective, what are good practices, and practices that are fiscally reasonable and at the same time serving and maintaining an atmosphere of learning that we want and we expect,” said Vice President and General Counsel Ted Ayres.

In response to the budgetary repercussions this upgrade will cause for buildings wanting to remain gun free, the bill allows for a six-month exemption to figure out the logistics of the sectary upgrade.

The Board of Regents working with the state leased and owned facilities have already extended the exemption for most agencies and public institutions, including Wichita State, by four years.

“I appreciate the opportunity that the legislature gave for entities to seek the exemption,” Ayres said. “That leaves a window for further thought further study and further discussion which I think is really appropriate.”

The state is still investigating the cost of these security upgrades and the overall affect of remaining gun free.

Though the decisions for Wichita State were made primarily by the Board of Regents, the university had the opportunities to voice its concerns. There is however no official statement made by WSU.

“Speaking for myself, I certainly appreciated the Board of Regents taking this step on this important issue and recognizing it was an issue for all of our students all of our employees at various universities.” Ayres said.

With WSU’s future being determined within the next few years, the legislation and new signs around campus along with the issues hasn’t got much attention.

“I noticed that the university put signs up everywhere on the doors. I just hadn’t checked into that to see what it was about,” said Jeff Pulaski, assistant professor of the School of Art and Design.

Pulaski is for gun rights and supports the concealed-carry legislation, but believes a college campus is a questionable environment to allow guns.

“Whenever you have lots and lots of people around each other in potentially intense situations, which I think classes can be very intense, that’s a situation that can get volatile,” Pulaski said.

“I do feel kind of safe (on campus) but then if I was at a place with people with guns around me it wouldn’t make me feel unsafe or safer,” an anonymous WSU student said.

He argues that the whole purpose of being able to carry a gun is to make environments safer for the public.

“When you create a gun-free zone, it becomes a target by anyone who’s holding a gun has all the power,” he said.

Public safety concerns on the guns on campus debate are polarizing.

“What are the two options, in five years we’re either going to have metal detectors at all the doors with armed guards or we’re going to no restriction on guns?” Pulaski said

Putting a fear of guns on campus in perspective the WSU student believes that if guns are allowed on campus that the new opportunity won’t be seized as much as anticipated.

“I don’t have money for a gun, or ammunition or the time,” the student said.