New Kansas Gun Carry Law Creates Significant Financial Risk To National And Regional Chains--Leading Liability Expert

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CHICAGO, July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new law in Kansas that removes training requirements for carrying concealed firearms creates significant new financial risks to national and regional chains. SB 45 (2015), which took effect July 1, 2015, removes the requirement for gun carriers in Kansas to have any firearms training, handling or firing experience to carry lethal weapons.

National Gun Victims Action Council has sent a certified letter to the general counsels of over 65 national and regional chains with a Kansas presence and 40 chambers of commerce in Kansas advising them of the realistic risk of injury to employees and patrons from SB 45 and their liability that did not exist before. It has provided them a legal memorandum prepared by a distinguished Kansas attorney who is a leading expert in common law liability of gun owners and constitutional issues.

While those who own or control private property are permitted to post "No Guns" signs under the law, there is also an "immunity section" which may give false comfort. A powerful analysis in the memorandum concludes the "immunity section" is unlikely to survive a constitutional challenge if an accidental or intentional gun incident occurs. To avoid significant financial loss, the most compelling defense is for property owners to post "No Guns" signs.

"It's hard to imagine that the general counsel or anyone connected with managing the affairs of a large organization would accept a risk that could be so readily eliminated by the posting of 'No Guns' signs," says Elliot Fineman, CEO of NGVAC. "Contrary to the gun rights' characterization of 'gun-free' zones as dangerous and attractive to mass shooters, every major U.S. corporation bans guns in their headquarters—and gun violence there is rare to nonexistent."

Currently five states including Kansas have passed laws that do not require permits and training for carriers and nine more have proposed legislation to do so.

"Given the analysis of the Kansas law, national and regional chains would be well advised to post 'No Guns' allowed signs," said Fineman.

Click here Kansas Gun Law Creates Risk for a link to the letter and legal memorandum (If trouble viewing in your browser save to your computer then view.)

To view the multimedia assets with this and previous releases, click here.

National Gun Victims Action Council (NGVAC) is a non-profit network of 14 million gun victims, survivors, the faith community and ordinary people leveraging their buying power to change America's gun laws. NGVAC initiated the successful action that caused Starbucks to change its gun policy. NGVAC pursues novel legal strategies to reduce gun violence and encourages corporate involvement. NGVAC can be found at www.gunvictimsaction.org.

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SOURCE National Gun Victims Action Council

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http://www.gunvictimsaction.org