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The number of school shootings has dramatically increased since the late 1990’s. The Kansas State Legislature legalized the possession of concealed firearms on university campuses. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine Council of Regents Law Enforcement Directors’, those in charge of campus security at Kansas public universities, perceptions of campus safety related to the 2013 Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act which legalized concealed firearms on university campuses in Kansas. Additionally, each university’s weapons policy was evaluated for similarities and differences. Six members of the CRLED were interviewed. The participants offered their perspectives on campus safety and the impact of lawfully concealed firearms. Through qualitative interviews and document analysis, data were gathered and analyzed to determine themes.Four themes emerged which reflected the participants’ perceptions related to campus safety and the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act. These themes included: (a) The presence of firearms on campus will impact the university; (b) firearms and other concerns are threats to campus safety; (c) the concerns expressed by campus constituents are similar; (d) there is a need for training to promote an understanding of the mental aspects of firearms. The findings present implication for university constituents and researchers interested in knowing the impact of lawfully concealed firearms on members of the CRLED. |
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