Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Attorney’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Maria Kaminska, Assistant City Attorney
DATE: CC:	June 19, 2014 Toni Wheeler, City Attorney
RE:	Ord. 9014: Criminal Carrying of a Weapon

Background

House Bill 2578 prohibits cities from enacting or enforcing any local laws concerning firearms and knives. However, cities may adopt laws prohibiting other dangerous weapons such as bludgeons, sandclubs, metal knuckles, throwing stars, tear gas, smoke bombs, billys, blackjacks, slungshots, or items of a similar nature or character. The language in Ordinance 9014 derives from K.S.A. 21-6302, which does not preempt the field of the listed weapons. At least one other City – Overland Park – recently adopted a similar ordinance.

Action Requested

Adopt on first reading Ordinance 9014, prohibiting the criminal carrying of a weapon, if appropriate.