Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed legislation nullifying city and county gun restrictions and ensuring it’s legal across the state to openly carry firearms.
The new law will take effect July 1. 
Tim Brown, Junction City Chief of Police has been very open about his opposition of the bill throughout the whole legislative process.
“Overall I’m upset about it. The legislature, including our own, payed no attention to law enforcement, nor our consult on this, because I was very adamant through out the process that we did not support that and wanted that provision taken out,” Brown talking about open carry.
Representative Allan Rothlisberg of Grandview Plaza explained he was in support of the bill and that a lobby group with various police officer associations worked closely with the proponent for the bill.
Whether or not the open carry of firearms will create more of a problem within city’s and counties Rothlisberg said,”There is always potential but this really went through committee on both sides, and since the police officer associations were okay on this bill I felt comfortable voting for it.”
Chief Brown said that he believes it will make it more difficult for the officers.
“Because if you see somebody walking downtown in Junction City and they have a M-16 rifle slung over their shoulder, and people start calling as to why is there a guy walking downtown with a rifle, then those officers will have to respond and make contact with that individual not knowing what there intent is,” Brown said. “That in itself is dangerous and that’s always a problem when something like that occurs.”
Brown did say that he was fully supportive of the states concealed carry law.
“Our concealed carry laws work just fine, and I have no problems with that at all. This just takes it to a whole new level,” Brown explained.
Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf told JCpost.com that he stands with Chief Brown on the issue and did have a statement for the public.
“Get ready to see individuals walking up and down the street with such weapons as an AR-15 thrown over their shoulder, or a shotgun, or any other type of weapon they feel they want to walk around with that day because it will be legal in July.”