Rooks County Health Center News
Rooks County Health Center Prohibits Concealed Weapons
In response to a recent law enacted in Kansas allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons, Rooks County Health Center will be enforcing a policy prohibiting handguns, pistols or revolvers in its facility. The new law, which took effect July 1, 2006, allows private entities such as hospitals to ban weapons on their premises. Individuals with a license to carry a concealed weapon are not exempt from the hospital’s weapons ban.
The new policy states that weapons are strictly forbidden on hospital premises (including all buildings on the 304 S. Colorado property) and all off-site buildings operated as part of the hospital. (Visitors may store firearms in vehicles, as long as they are stowed in accordance with Kansas law).
The hospital’s weapons policy applies to all patients, employees, visitors, medical staff members, clinical practitioners, independent contractors, volunteers, vendors and any other persons entering the hospital for any reason. The only individuals permitted to carry a firearm on hospital premises are on-duty law enforcement officers or hospital security staff. To alert the public that the hospital does not permit weapons on its premises, signage restricting or prohibiting weapons will be posted in a manner likely to come to the attention of persons entering the premises.
Rooks County Health Center strives to remain socially responsible to protect the safety of patients, visitors, employees, medical staff and volunteers, as well as the overall community. Rooks County Health Center believes the policy prohibiting weapons reinforces the hospital’s commitment to the communities it serves.